U.S. Government Places Sierra Leone on Draft Travel Ban List
Tolulope Aina Sierra Leone is among dozens of countries facing potential travel restrictions to the United States under a new proposal from the Trump administration.
An internal memo seen by Reuters indicates that Sierra Leone is in the “orange” category, meaning its citizens could face sharply restricted visas.
The proposal, which is still in draft form and subject to change, categorizes 41 countries into three tiers. The “red” tier, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, would face a complete travel ban.
Sierra Leone falls into the “orange” tier, where visas would be significantly restricted, potentially impacting tourist, student, and immigrant visas.
A third “yellow” tier of 26 countries would be given 60 days to address security concerns before facing potential restrictions. An anonymous U.S. official cautioned that the list is not yet finalized and requires approval from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This move recalls President Trump’s previous travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority nations, which was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court. The new proposal stems from an executive order issued in January, requiring intensified security vetting for foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S.
The order also mandated a list of countries with “deficient” vetting and screening information, which led to the current proposal. This is part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, building on promises made during the 2024 campaign.
It is worth noting that the U.S. previously suspended visa issuance for Sierra Leonean nationals in September 2020, following a dispute over the repatriation of deported Sierra Leoneans.
The State Department has not yet issued an official comment on the new proposal.
Then they should close the embassy till further notice.
Bad news for Sierra Leone 🤔🤔
Maybe Sierra Leone should stop harbouring drug traffickers?