Trump to implement travel ban on Afghanistan, Pakistan over 'deficient' vetting and screening practices: report

President Donald Trump is set to implement a new travel ban that would bar individuals from Afghanistan and Pakistan from entering the United States, according to a new report from Reuters. This comes after Trump drafted an executive order that directed cabinet members to recommend a list of countries for bans where their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."

The ban would add to a list of “red” countries whose people are barred from coming to the US. The list of countries that Trump had on the list when he implemented a travel ban in his first term included Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Afghanistan would then be added to the list as a result of a draft proposal, according to the New York Times. Pakistan is also being recommended for the list, Reuters reported. 

The measure is part of an effort to further vet those that are coming into the United States as the Trump administration is heavily focused on national security threats from other countries, including with illegal immigration.

The new restrictions could bar thousands of Afghans who were previously cleared for resettlement in the US as refugees by the Biden administration after the Afghanistan withdrawal. The disastrous withdrawal saw the reemergence of the Taliban, as well as the deaths of 13 US soldiers at Abbey Gate. The alleged terrorist behind the bombing attack was recently captured by the Trump administration.

As part of his efforts to strengthen US security, President Trump signed an executive order in January mandating enhanced screening of foreign nationals entering the US. The order also instructed members of Trump’s cabinet to put together a list of countries that would need greater scrutiny for security purposes because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."

Head of #AfghanEvac, an activist coalition pushing the resettlement of Afghans with the US government, Shawn VanDiver, said, "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,"

Given the increasing challenges in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Islamist militants continue to threaten stability, Trump's directive reflects his ongoing commitment to ensuring US security. His actions come as part of a broader initiative to enhance screening and safeguard the country from potential threats.