Explained: Trump travel ban 2.0 to affect 43 countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan

The proposed travel bans follow an Executive Order by Trump on January 20, authorising government officials to compile a list of countries 'for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.

After weeks of speculation , the Trump administration is gearing up to issue a sweeping series of travel restrictions on the citizens of 43 countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan, The New York Times reported on Friday (March 14). These restrictions are set to be more far-reaching compared to those imposed in Trump’s previous term, the report said.

Donald Trump on January 20, the day of his inauguration, had issued an executive order directing cabinet members, including the Secretary of State, to compile a list of countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals”.

Trump said that he intended to protect American citizens  “from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.” The order required a report to be furnished to the White House within 60 days, that is, by next week.

Proposed travel restrictions

According to the draft list of recommendations accessed by The NYT, countries have been identified as belonging to one of three buckets.