US President Donald Trump is reportedly set to impose a new travel ban that could prevent citizens from Afghanistan and Pakistan from entering the United States, according to three sources. The new restriction, which may take effect as soon as next week, is part of an ongoing government review focused on security and vetting risks, and could eventually extend to other nations, although the specific countries have not been disclosed.
This move echoes Trump’s earlier controversial travel ban from his first term, which barred entry for visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries—a policy that underwent several revisions before being upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. That earlier ban was later revoked by former President Joe Biden in 2021, who criticized it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
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One source warned that the new ban could have serious consequences for tens of thousands of Afghan nationals, many of whom had been approved for resettlement in the US under refugee status or Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). These individuals have been at risk of retaliation by the Taliban for their service during the US’s 20-year military involvement in Afghanistan.
Trump’s January 20 executive order had already mandated a more rigorous security vetting process for foreigners seeking US entry, aiming to detect potential national security threats. It also instructed US cabinet members to compile a list of countries for potential travel restrictions by March 12, based primarily on inadequate vetting and screening information. Sources confirmed that Afghanistan has been earmarked for a complete travel ban, with Pakistan also expected to be included. However, comments from the US departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the matter have not been forthcoming.
The US State Department office overseeing resettlement efforts has sought an exemption for SIV holders from the new ban, but one source suggested that such an exemption is unlikely. Additionally, reports indicate that the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts has been instructed to prepare for the program’s closure by April.
The Taliban, who took control of Kabul after the final US troop withdrawal in August 2021, are currently engaged in conflict with an insurgent group linked to the Islamic State, while Pakistan continues to face challenges from violent Islamist militants. The new travel ban is part of a broader immigration crackdown launched by Trump at the beginning of his second term.
