Key points
- A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on development
- Earlier, Trump had signed a proclamation that banned entry of citizens from 12 nations
- During his first in office, Trump had announced a ban on travelers from seven countries
ISLAMABAD: Trump’s administration is considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions by potentially banning citizens of 36 additional nations from entering the United States (US), Reuters reported.
The Washington Post reported that a State Department spokesperson said the agency would not comment on internal deliberations or communications.
The White House did not immediately react over the development.
To protect the US
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 nations, saying the move was needed to protect the United States against “foreign terrorists” and other national security threats, according to Reuters.
READ ALSO: Trump Travel Ban in Effect, Citizens from 12 Nations Barred From US
The directive was part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term, which has included the deportation to El Salvador of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members, as well as efforts to deny enrollments of some foreign students from US universities and deport others, Reuters reported.
Full or partial suspension of entry
“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” Reuters cited a cable as saying. The development was first reported by the Washington Post.
During his first in office, Trump announced a ban on travelers from seven countries, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
