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According to a report by Reuters on June 16, the Trump administration is considering further expanding the travel ban, potentially prohibiting citizens from 36 additional countries from entering the United States.

The report stated that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio recently signed an internal memorandum with the intention of continuing to expand the scope of the travel ban. The document shows that the U.S. Department of State has identified these 36 countries as Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The U.S. Department of State cited reasons including the inability or unwillingness of relevant governments to issue reliable identification documents, passports with questionable security, visa overstays, involvement in terrorist activities, anti-American behavior, and refusal to cooperate with the repatriation of their own citizens ordered to be deported by the U.S. It also required these countries to submit preliminary plans meeting its new requirements by Wednesday (June 18) and granted a 60-day period for rectification. If they fail to meet the established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days, comprehensive bans or restrictions may be imposed on personnel from these countries.

On June 4, the Trump administration had already banned citizens from 12 countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the United States, and implemented entry restrictions on citizens from seven countries including Cuba, Burundi, Laos, etc.

Los Angeles International Airport New York Times

According to a report by the American Travel Age West website, Zane Kobe, chairman and CEO of the U.S. Travel Agents Association, pointed out that travel restrictions not only affect individuals but also impact global trade, damage relations between nations, and contradict the spirit of openness represented by travel.

A responsible person from a travel company in California stated, "Travel is not just about cross-border movement; it is also a crucial way to promote global understanding and connection. Safe and open travel is the cornerstone of world stability. Restrictive measures will have a chain reaction and ultimately go against the core values of travel." He called on the U.S. government to adopt an open and inclusive policy, supporting the sustainable development of the tourism industry while ensuring safety.

According to The Guardian of the UK, Trump seems to have a preference for travel bans. During his first term as President of the United States, the travel ban he implemented caused chaos and protests at airports across the country, leading to social unrest. After being re-elected as President of the United States, Trump continued to strengthen this immigration policy. In early June this year, the strategy of banning or restricting entry for citizens of 12 countries by the Trump administration has caused panic and become one of the factors of global instability. Now, Trump is continuously expanding the coverage of the travel ban, gradually dismantling the U.S. immigration system through incremental restrictions.

This move by the Trump administration has sparked widespread condemnation. The head of a non-profit organization in Texas said, "Now the U.S. immigration system has been severely disrupted, and the travel ban is adding insult to injury." Iranian-American Costello told the media that under the influence of policies such as Trump's travel ban, many people around him have given up returning home for funerals or canceled wedding plans, and more people are trapped in the dilemma of being legally resident but unable to move freely.

Al Jazeera reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that the Trump administration's decision to ban Iranian nationals from entering the United States not only demonstrates deep hostility toward the Iranian people but also violates international law.

Interior Minister Diosdado of Venezuela called the Trump administration's targeted travel ban policy "fascist," which poses a significant risk to anyone living in the United States.

According to The New York Times, Trump claimed that the travel ban was intended to protect the United States from "foreign terrorists," but many believe there are other motives behind it.

Senator Chris Murphy of the U.S. Congress believes, "Trump's expansion of the travel ban is intended to divert public attention away from the wealthy tax cut bill."

Cooper, vice president of the U.S. Legal Project of the International Refugee Assistance Project, pointed out, "The Trump administration's travel ban will have 'devastating consequences.' Identifying potential 'dangerous elements' based on nationality is an extremely wrong approach, which will block countless family reunions and make foreigners living in the U.S. lose their sense of security."

Cooper believes that the Trump administration's travel ban is "weaponizing" immigration laws to target those who hold different opinions.

Abed Ayoub, national executive director of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, stated that although the Trump administration claims to expand the ban to "strengthen passenger screening," it is actually to appease Trump supporters. "Since Trump took office, the U.S. government has significantly reduced refugee reception programs, accelerated deportations, and taken a tough stance on all immigration issues."

The report mentioned that many foreign citizens currently living in the United States are living cautiously, walking on eggshells when going out, "not knowing whether they will get into trouble, or even why."

The report stated that this ban has stopped business cooperation between the U.S. and the rest of the world, also keeping tourists worldwide at bay, damaging the U.S. economic growth and innovation. The U.S. may see the number of departures exceed arrivals this year for at least half a century, which will undoubtedly have a major negative impact on the U.S. economy.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516518635012162083/

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