Trump's new travel ban could block Pakistanis, Afghans from entering US

Washington: A new travel ban by US President Donald Trump could bar individuals from Pakistan and Afghanistan from entering the United States as early as next week, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that other countries might also be included in the ban but did not specify which ones. The move echoes Trump’s first-term ban on travellers from seven majority-Muslim nations — a policy that underwent multiple revisions before being upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018, Reuters reported.

Former President Joe Biden repealed the previous ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.”

The new restrictions, if implemented, could have major consequences for tens of thousands of Afghans who have already been cleared for resettlement in the US under refugee programmes or Special Immigrant Visas. Many of these individuals face the risk of Taliban retribution due to their past work for the US government during its 20-year war in Afghanistan.

On January 20, Trump issued an executive order requiring stricter security screening for foreigners seeking entry into the US, citing national security concerns. The order directed multiple government agencies to submit a list of countries by March 12 whose vetting processes are deemed inadequate, potentially leading to partial or full travel suspensions.

Reuters confirmed that Afghanistan is expected to be included in the list for a complete travel ban, while Pakistan is also likely to be recommended.

The US departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security, along with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence — key agencies overseeing the initiative — have not yet responded to requests for comment.

One source told Reuters that Afghans applying for resettlement in the US as refugees or through Special Immigrant Visas already undergo an extensive screening process, making them “more highly vetted than any population” globally.

The State Department’s office handling Afghan resettlement is pushing for an exemption for Special Immigrant Visa holders, but the request is unlikely to be granted, the source added.

The Taliban, who took control of Kabul in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US forces, continue to face an insurgency from the Islamic State’s regional branch.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is grappling with violent Islamist militancy. Trump has framed the new ban as part of a broader immigration crackdown, previewing his plans in an October 2023 speech, where he vowed to restrict travel from regions like Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other areas perceived as security risks.

Shawn VanDiver, head of #AfghanEvac — a coalition assisting with Afghan resettlement — warned visa holders to leave for the US as soon as possible if they can.

“While no official announcement has been made, multiple sources within the US government suggest a new travel restriction could be implemented within the next week,” he said in a statement.

The ban could impact some 200,000 Afghans who have been approved for US resettlement or are awaiting decisions on refugee or Special Immigrant Visa applications. Many of them have been stranded in Afghanistan and nearly 90 other countries, including about 20,000 in Pakistan, since January 20, when Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on refugee admissions and halted funding for flights assisting their relocation, Reuters reported.