The Administration is following up on its plans, articulated in this January 20 Executive Order 14161, to deny entry to large groups of persons.

On June 4 the administration announced, “[This] Proclamation fully restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 12 countries found to be deficient with regards to screening and vetting and determined to pose a very high risk to the United States: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The Proclamation partially restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 7 countries who also pose a high level of risk to the United States: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.”

In the announcement are explanations why the block is imposed. For instance, here is Sudan’s: “Sudan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.  According to the Overstay Report, Sudan had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 26.30 percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 28.40 percent.”

It’s not clear from the announcement why some countries have “partial” restrictions, nor what partial means. Here is the entry from Venezuela: “Venezuela lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.  Venezuela has historically refused to accept back its removable nationals.  According to the Overstay Report, Venezuela had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 9.83 percent.”

The case of Afghanistan

Here is what the proclamation of June 4 said: “The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan.  Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.  According to the Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry/Exit Overstay Report (“Overstay Report”), Afghanistan had a business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visa overstay rate of 9.70 percent and a student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visa overstay rate of 29.30 percent.”

The problem with this ban is that thousands of Afghans who escape around the time of the withdrawal of American presence are now denied entry. The Executive Order lists exceptions to the total and partial bans. The situation with Afghans is complicated because the administration is also dismantling programs to assist with resettlement.

AfghanEvac has been engaged in assisting Afghans to settle in the U.S. It reports that Executive Order 14169 (issued on January 20 ) cancels crucial financial support for transporting Afghan resettlement. On April 16, the administration cancelled Temporary Protected Status for Afghans in the U.S. under that program.

The June 4 proclamation explicitly exempts from the ban Afghan nationals who have been granted Special Immigrant Visas—typically individuals who supported U.S. military or government operations.  This program continues, with about 40,000 plus Afghan being admitted since the 2021 withdrawal. All other Afghans wishing to enter, regardless of their investment to date in planning, are banned unless they have an active visa.  Here is a checklist of all avenues for Afghan entry into the U.S. and the impact of thr June 4 proclamation.