US Mulls Expanding Travel Ban, Targeting 36 Countries

The US is considering expanding its travel ban to include 36 more countries, raising concerns among many nations. A State Department memo reveals that 25 of the 36 countries under review are in Africa. The memo cites issues such as unreliable identity documents, high visa overstay rates, and concerns about citizenship-by-investment programs as reasons for the potential bans. Countries have 60 days to meet new security and vetting benchmarks. "This would mark a major escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown," says the memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The proposed expansion comes on top of an existing ban affecting 19 countries, 10 of which are African. While the final decision is pending, the potential impact on travel and international relations is significant. The 60-day review period offers a chance for affected governments to address the concerns raised by the US.