US Discusses Travel Ban on Citizens from 43 Countries- Reports

The New York Times reported Saturday that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering imposing a travel ban on citizens of more than 40 countries divided into three categories.

The red category will include countries whose citizens will be barred entirely from entering the United States: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, as well as five Arab countries: Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Ten countries will be included in the orange category, which includes strict visa restrictions: Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.

The newspaper reported that "in these cases, wealthy business travelers may be allowed to enter, but not travelers on immigrant or tourist visas."

Citizens of the countries on the orange list will be required to undergo in-person interviews to obtain a visa.

The proposal includes 22 countries on the yellow list, which have 60 days to address US concerns or be moved to one of the other two categories. This category would include countries such as Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, and Pakistan.

According to Reuters, Mauritania may be included in this category.

Officials who spoke anonymity to Reuters said the list was prepared by the State Department weeks ago and is likely to be revised once it reaches the White House.

Reuters quoted a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying the list could change and is awaiting approval from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.