The State Department of the United States of America (US) has outlined dozens of reasons it is considering new visa restrictions on 36 countries, including Ghana.
In an internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Department outlined a dozen concerns about the countries in question and sought corrective action.
“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the cable, sent out over the weekend, stated.
The cable was first reported by The Washington Post.
Gaps in Documentation and Deportation Compliance Cited
Among the concerns raised was the lack of a competent or cooperative government in some of the countries mentioned, particularly regarding the production of reliable identity documents.
Another concern was the “questionable security” of some countries’ passports.
Some countries, the cable said, were not cooperative in facilitating the removal of their nationals from the United States after those individuals were ordered to be deported.
Others were criticized for the high rate of visa overstays by their citizens.
Terrorism, anti-semitism, and anti-american activity
Additional reasons for concern included instances where nationals of certain countries were involved in acts of terrorism in the United States or engaged in antisemitic and anti-American activity.
The cable noted that not all of these concerns applied to every country on the list.
National security in visa decisions
“We are constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans and that foreign nationals follow our laws,” a senior State Department official said, declining to comment on specific internal deliberations and communications.
“The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the official added.
Ghana among nations facing possible visa suspension
Countries that could face a full or partial visa ban if they do not address these concerns within the next 60 days include: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
New sanctions would expand existing restrictions
This would represent a significant expansion of the visa ban that came into effect earlier this month.
The countries already affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The entry of people from seven other countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — has also been partially restricted.Trump revives controversial immigration policy
During his first term in office, President Donald Trump announced a ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations — a policy that underwent several revisions before ultimately being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.
