The Trump administration has expanded its list of countries whose passport holders must post bonds, up to $15,000, to apply for entry to the United States, including seven new countries, five of which are in Africa. This brings the total number of countries on the list to thirteen, making the visa process unaffordable for many, according to the State Department. This action, which took effect January 1, is part of a broader effort to tighten entry requirements, alongside other measures such as in-person interviews and social media history disclosure. U.S. officials maintain the bonds ensure visa holders comply with visa terms.
Read More
The Trump administration has implemented stricter screening measures for visa applicants, including requiring public social media accounts and potentially expanding the existing travel ban to new countries. This move follows an incident in Washington D.C., and aligns with broader efforts to fortify U.S. borders. Simultaneously, the administration is considering collecting more data from tourists through the ESTA program, which has drawn criticism from digital rights organizations due to potential civil liberties concerns. These policy changes, along with other measures, have already shown impacts on tourism, including a decline in Canadian visitors and projections of reduced international visitor spending for the U.S. in the coming years.
Read More
Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has stated that the United States revoked his visa and banned him from the country, a move he links to his criticism of the Trump administration. Soyinka, who previously renounced his US green card in protest of Trump’s 2016 election, made the announcement after being asked to surrender his passport for visa cancellation. The author has been a frequent critic of Trump’s immigration policies and suggested that his comparison of Trump to Idi Amin may have contributed to the recent development. The US embassy has declined to comment on the individual case.
Read More
US to revoke Colombia President Petro’s visa over ‘reckless’ actions in New York. This whole situation feels like a powder keg ready to blow, doesn’t it? The US is reportedly going to yank President Petro’s visa, and it’s all thanks to some rather pointed comments he made while in New York for the UN General Assembly. Apparently, he told US soldiers to disobey their orders if they were instructed to fire on citizens, which is, to put it mildly, a bold move.
Let’s be real, the core issue here is that he’s essentially telling foreign military personnel not to follow their commander-in-chief’s orders while on foreign soil.… Continue reading
The US State Department has revoked visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other Palestinian officials, preventing their attendance at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. This decision, which the US attributes to undermining peace efforts, has been welcomed by Israel but condemned by Palestinian officials who view it as a violation of international law and the UN Headquarters Agreement. Despite the ban, Palestinian representatives at the UN mission in New York may still attend meetings. This move comes amidst international efforts, led by France, to recognize a state of Palestine, a move opposed by the current US administration.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood