Sierra Leone on TIER 2 Orange — Travel Visa Sharply Restricted Visa — Draft List
‘Affluent business travelers could be permitted entry, but not individuals traveling on immigrant or tourist visas, according to The New York Times. Citizens from these countries would also be required to undergo mandatory in-person interviews’ ~New York Times.
The list is subject to change and requires approval from the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The draft visa ban reflects the executive order known as the Muslim ban issued during Trump's first term. This order restricted travel and refugee resettlement from several predominantly Muslim countries.
The draft list categorizes countries into three distinct groups, each with varying levels of restrictions:
The first level, 'Red', faces a full visa ban affecting 11 countries.
The second level, labeled 'Orange,' has strict visa restrictions, which affect tourists, students, and other visa categories.
The third-level 'Yellow' countries have 60 days to address all concerns raised by the United States.
How did Sierra Leone end up in the orange category of restricted visas?
Reasons can be found in the US State Department 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Sierra Leone, and the current state of affairs.
READ US State Department 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sierra Leone
It provides a thorough analysis of human rights issues, including credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, and arbitrary arrests or detentions, among others.
The government took some steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, but impunity persisted.
WATCH: The analysis, the reasons for the ranking, and potential remedies for Sierra Leone!
“USA To Impose Travel Ban on Sierra Leone: Is Sierra Leone the Worst African Country?”
