-As Liberia and 42 other countries risk US travel restrictions
By Jerromie S. Walters
With more than 24 hours down, the government of Liberia is yet to comment on reports that a draft proposal circulating within the Trump administration outlines a three-tiered system of travel restrictions targeting citizens from up to 43 countries, including Liberia.
Last weekend, the New York Times reported that the proposed measures would significantly expand the scope of the travel bans implemented during President Trump’s first term. According to officials familiar with the matter, the draft list categorizes countries into three tiers based on the severity of restrictions: Red Tier: Citizens from 11 countries would face a complete ban on travel to the United States. Orange Tier: Visa approvals for citizens of certain countries would be sharply restricted. Yellow Tier: Countries would be given 60 days to address concerns before potential restrictions are imposed.
The “red” list, which imposes the most stringent restrictions, includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. These nations would see their citizens barred entirely from entering the U.S.
The “orange” tier, which involves significant visa restrictions, includes Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
Meanwhile, the “yellow” tier includes countries such as Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe. These nations would have 60 days to address U.S. concerns before any restrictions are finalized.
Officials emphasized that the draft is still under review and subject to change before any final order is issued. If implemented, the new travel ban would mark a significant expansion of the administration’s earlier restrictions, which primarily targeted majority-Muslim nations and sparked widespread controversy.
However, Montserrado County Senator Abe Darius Dillon announced that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has scheduled a hearing with Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and her team. The session is set to take place at 2:00 PM on Monday, March 17, in the Chambers of the Senate. The hearing aims to address the deployment of foreign service officials, the well-being of Liberian students in Morocco and other parts of the world, and the utilization of the Japanese Grant. Additionally, the recent concerns raised by the U.S. government regarding visa restrictions on Liberia will be a significant part of the discussions.
Senator Dillon emphasized that while some of the issues predate the current administration, the government is committed to taking responsibility and implementing corrective measures. “Instead of casting blame, we must focus on resolving these challenges. That is why we are now in charge as a government,” he stated.
