Trump Administration Plans Sweeping Travel Ban on 43 Countries, Including Arab Nations
The proposed ban could impact millions across the Middle East and Africa, raising fears of deportations, disrupted reunifications, and strained global diplomacy.
Watan-The Trump administration’s plan to impose a new travel ban on citizens from 43 countries could change the lives of millions in the Middle East and Africa. What awaits citizens of these nations and their families? And how might this decision impact diplomatic relations?
As Donald Trump begins his second term as President of the United States, his administration is expected to return to enforcing strict immigration policies, with new decisions underway.
On March 15, Reuters revealed it had reviewed an internal memo indicating that the Trump administration is considering a comprehensive travel ban on citizens from 43 countries, including a number of Arab nations.
According to the memo, the countries are divided into three categories: red, orange, and yellow. Countries on the red list would face a total travel ban, while those on the orange list would be subject to partial bans and strict visa requirements. Countries on the orange list would have 60 days to address U.S. security concerns, or risk being moved to the red or yellow list.
The Arab countries designated for a full travel ban include Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. Mauritania was given a chance to address its situation before a final decision is made.
A former Syrian diplomat and expert on U.S. affairs stated that the classifications were made in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, based on each country’s ability to share traveler data with the U.S. and address security gaps.
Another U.S. affairs expert noted that the proposed travel ban stems in part from national security concerns. However, he added that some view it as racially motivated, as most of the affected countries are in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
A Stricter Return to Trump’s Previous Policies
During Trump’s first term, similar immigration measures were enacted, most notably in 2017, when citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries were banned from entering the U.S. That decision was later reversed in 2021 by President Joe Biden, who described it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
The key difference between the upcoming decision and the 2017 travel ban is that the new measure may also target immigrants already residing in the U.S., potentially leading to deportations of citizens from red-listed countries.
A political analyst specializing in U.S. affairs argued that the U.S. isn’t just targeting Muslim-majority Arab countries but is also aiming at people of color, the poor, and countries that don’t share information about their citizens with U.S. authorities.
He added that this move could also be intended to pressure “white” countries like Belarus and Russia into data-sharing cooperation. However, he pointed out that 22 of the 43 countries listed are in Africa and include Black and marginalized populations, or, as Trump previously described them, “shithole countries.”
Widespread Human Rights Condemnation
The Trump administration’s new plan has been widely condemned by human rights organizations, including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which called it a prelude to another discriminatory policy targeting individuals from Muslim and Arab-majority countries. The group warned it could grant the government ideological grounds to deny visa requests and deport lawfully present individuals.
Legal experts noted that U.S. courts are likely to see a wave of legal challenges if the ban is issued, as it may violate constitutional rights. While courts could temporarily block the decision, the Supreme Court did uphold a revised version of the 2017 travel ban in 2018. Nonetheless, a future administration could reverse the ban through executive orders, just as Biden did in 2021.
