A draft list by the U.S. State Department notes 43 countries facing travel bans or restrictions by President Trump’s administration, categorized into red, orange, and yellow lists. Key inclusions are Bhutan, Pakistan, North Korea, and Russia, each designated for varying levels of restriction, while unexpected omissions and puzzling selections mark the lists.

A draft list reportedly circulating within the U.S. State Department identifies 43 countries that may be subject to President Donald Trump’s travel restrictions, as reported by The New York Times. The countries are categorized into three groups: the red list comprises nations whose citizens face a complete ban, the orange list lists those with significantly restricted visas, while the yellow list includes countries given 60 days to address U.S. concerns.

The red list has drawn attention for including Bhutan, a peaceful Buddhist nation, leaving its citizens astonished. The ban on Bhutanese citizens appears linked to a 2023 immigration scam involving Nepalese individuals falsely claiming Bhutanese refugee status, as noted by The Bhutanese. Other countries on the red list include North Korea, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Libya, and surprisingly, Afghanistan, while Iraq notably does not appear.

In the orange category, Pakistan’s inclusion may alarm its diaspora in the U.S., alongside Russia and its ally Belarus. Interestingly, despite unfavorable treatment of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Ukraine itself is not listed; conversely, Russia remains highlighted due to its ties with President Trump. Laos and Myanmar, along with Turkmenistan from Central Asia, also feature in the orange list.

The yellow list includes several unexpectedly designated countries, such as Caribbean nations—St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica, the latter of which is notable for a missing Indian student currently tracked by the FBI. Additionally, Cambodia, home to Angkor Wat, and the Oceanic nation of Vanuatu, where an Indian entrepreneur had sought citizenship, have made it onto this list. The yellow designation extends to a group of 16 African nations, including Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad, among others.

The listing of countries subject to potential travel restrictions under President Trump’s administration encompasses a diverse array of nations, categorized into red, orange, and yellow lists based on the severity of the restrictions. The surprising inclusion of Bhutan and the absence of Iraq from the red list have attracted particular scrutiny. Overall, this framework appears to reflect both geopolitical dynamics and specific immigration concerns impacting various countries.

Original Source: www.rediff.com

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