US reviewing visa programs as official says Afghanistan could be included in Trump travel ban

The US State Department is “undertaking a full review of all visa programs,” a department spokesperson confirmed amid reports of an impending new travel ban, and a US official familiar with the situation told CNN that Afghanistan could be among the countries included.

The US State Department is “undertaking a full review of all visa programs,” a department spokesperson confirmed amid reports of an impending new travel ban, and a US official familiar with the situation told CNN that Afghanistan could be among the countries included. The official said the ban could come as soon as next week but noted it was unclear if final decisions on countries and timing had been made. In an executive order issued on January 20, President Donald Trump directed cabinet members, including the Secretary of State, to compile a list of countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.” The executive order calls for this to be done within 60 days. “The Department is undertaking a full review of all visa programs as directed under this EO and executing on administration priorities,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson would not give further details, saying they do “not comment on internal deliberations or communications.” A White House official told CNN, “No decisions regarding possible travel bans have been made, and anyone claiming otherwise does not know what they are talking about.”