Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban expanded to add six countries, including Myanmar and Nigeria
- Move could reignite debate over whether policy discriminates against Muslims, although most nations added do not have Muslim majorities
- Other countries facing new restrictions are Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan
The Trump administration said on Friday it will add six new countries to its travel ban, part of an election-year crackdown that could reignite debate over whether the policy discriminates against Muslims.
Restrictions on entering the US will now apply to certain travellers and migrants from Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as well as Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official.
The updated policy would not completely ban all citizens of those countries from coming to the US, but instead would limit access to certain kinds of visas. Unlike the initial list, most of the countries just added do not have Muslim-majority populations.
Under the plan, immigration visas will be suspended for Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Eritrea, and Nigeria. Access to the diversity lottery programme will be limited for Sudan and Tanzania, and the new restrictions will go into place in 21 days.
Travellers en route to the US will not be denied entry and those who already have visas or permanent residency will not be impacted by the new restrictions. Refugees, students, and temporary workers will still be able to travel to the US after the restrictions go into place, the official said.