US State Department Denies Existence of Travel Ban List Amid Speculation

WASHINGTON: The US State Department has dismissed claims of a new travel ban list, responding to speculations regarding possible travel restrictions under President Donald Trump’s administration. During a media briefing, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce firmly stated, “There is no list,” referring to recent reports circulating about a purported travel ban targeting countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.

The clarification comes after a draft list surfaced, allegedly outlining 41 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and others, which were divided into three groups with varying degrees of travel restrictions. According to the leaked memo, countries in the first group, including Afghanistan, Iran, and North Korea, would face a full suspension of visas. The second group, which includes countries like Eritrea and Haiti, would see partial suspensions affecting tourist, student, and immigrant visas. Pakistan was listed in the third group, which would also face a partial suspension if their governments failed to address certain deficiencies within 60 days.

Bruce emphasized that there was no formal list being acted upon by the State Department, explaining that the ongoing review was part of President Trump’s executive order to enhance security vetting for foreign visitors to the US. She added that the issue was still under review and the administration had not yet finalized any decisions regarding travel restrictions.

A US official, speaking anonymously, indicated that the list was not yet approved by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and could undergo changes. The move echoes the travel ban imposed during Trump’s first term, which targeted seven majority-Muslim countries and was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

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Bruce concluded by reiterating that the proposed travel restrictions were not an official item within the State Department and that the review process was ongoing to ensure US national security while dealing with visa issuance.