Trump expands US travel ban to 6 more countries

Saturday, 1 February 2020 09:57

The Trump administration's controversial travel ban has now been expanded to include Nigeria and five other countries.

Starting February 21, immigration restrictions will be imposed on Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar, with US officials explaining that they failed to meet security standards.

Belarus, which had been under consideration for inclusion, did not make it to the list as it took steps to remedy deficiencies in recent months.

Temporary visas for tourists, business people, students and workers from those nations will remain unaffected.

The US will also stop issuing "diversity visas" to nationals of Sudan and Tanzania.

Critics had earlier criticised US President Donald Trump's 2017 travel ban on Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela as discriminatory.

More from International News

Britain working with allies to support shipping through Strait of Hormuz

Britain is working with allies on a range of options to support commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in the face of Iranian threats, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said on Tuesday as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran roils oil prices.
Five Iranian women's soccer players granted humanitarian visas in Australia

Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Almost 700,000 displaced after Israeli strikes on Lebanon, UN agencies say

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has deepened amid the wider Middle East war, with 84 children killed and more than 667,000 people displaced, two UN agencies said on Tuesday.
Iran fighting back but not stronger than U.S. thought, top U.S. general says

Iran is fighting back but is not tougher than the U.S. military expected before the war, the top U.S. general told reporters on Tuesday, as the Pentagon promised its most intense day of strikes in the 10-day-old conflict.