AYV News, March 17, 2025
Sources revealed that Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba has summoned and will today Monday, 17th March, 2025 engage the United States’ Ambassador to Freetown, His Excellency Bryan David Hunt to explain why Sierra Leone is listed among 43 other countries proposed for a possible US visa restriction or travel ban.
Reports say the meeting is scheduled to be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Freetown, where the Ambassador will answer to questions clarifying the ugly situation.
Sierra Leone is among dozens of countries facing potential travel restrictions to the United States under a new proposal from the Trump administration.
The New York Times in America reported over the weekend that 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.
The Trump administration is considering targeting the citizens of as many as 43 countries as part of a new ban on travel to the United States that would be broader than the restrictions imposed during President Trump’s first term, according to officials familiar with the matter.
A draft list of recommendations developed by diplomatic and security officials suggests a “red” list of 11 countries whose citizens would be flatly barred from entering the United States. They are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, the officials said.
