New Muslim Travel Ban? Trump Administration To Add Countries To Banned List

President Trump said Tuesday he is planning to expand the list of countries whose citizens will be blocked from entering the United States.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the president’s ability to prevent citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. on national security grounds. The administration has said it found weaknesses in how those countries vetted travelers.

The Wall Street Journal reported Trump confirmed his intention to expand the restrictions during an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davis Switzerland.

Trump campaigned on a vow to keep Muslims from entering the United States and early in his presidency issued an executive order blocking travelers mostly from Muslim countries. The initial attempts to institute a ban were struck down but the third version was upheld.

The ban currently includes Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela. Chad, Iraq and Sudan were removed from the list.

Any changes to the ban are expected to be challenged in court.

CNN reported the revised policy will add seven countries and limit the types of visas that can be granted, creating a partial immigration ban. Trump declined to say what countries will be included.

The departments of State and Homeland Security have been working with the White House on the new rules, which the administration describes as “the stick” to get the countries to comply with U.S. national security requirements.

CNN, quoting sources, said the rules would allow the U.S. to remove a green card holder or naturalized citizen if negative information comes to light.

"For a small number of countries that lack either the will or the capability to adhere to these criteria, travel restrictions may become necessary to mitigate threats," acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said in remarks prepared for delivery before the Homeland Security Experts Group.

Wolf said the ban is reviewed every six months.