Overview

• A diplomatic cable instructs embassies in 36 countries, 25 of them in Africa, to pledge by June 18 that they will strengthen passport screening and identity documentation or risk being added to the U.S. travel ban list.
• The flagged nations have 60 days to develop and implement corrective action plans addressing vetting deficiencies, repatriation of deported nationals and information-sharing protocols.
• Twelve countries are already under a full entry ban and seven face partial travel restrictions under the policy introduced earlier this month.
• The administration cites national security threats and high visa overstay rates as justification for the expansion while critics warn it could undermine diplomatic ties and humanitarian cooperation.
• Countries that demonstrate effective reforms and accept deportees could avoid inclusion on the extended ban list or earn their removal through U.S. review.