Washington – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest civil rights organization for Muslims in the United States, issued an updated warning regarding travel outside the country, following the announcement by President Donald Trump of the preparation of a blacklist of countries whose citizens may be banned from entering the United States.

Warning for lawful residents, students, and workers

The council cautioned in an official statement that lawful permanent residents, students, workers, and immigrants legally residing in the United States should not leave the country during the next thirty days if they hold citizenship from countries that may be included in the new ban.

Potential countries on the blacklist

According to reports, the new ban may include citizens from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine (especially Gaza), Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, or any other countries that may be added to the list later.

Deadline for decision-making

The Trump administration has set March 21, 2025, as the deadline for federal agencies to report to the White House, aiming to determine which countries have “defective practices” in visa screening, whose citizens may be prevented from traveling to the United States under the new ban.

Executive Order No. 14161 and paving the way for a new ban

This action is based on Executive Order No. 14161, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other Threats to National Security and Public Safety.” This report is expected to pave the way for new travel restrictions, which could impact citizens of several majority-Muslim countries.

Growing concerns and human rights reactions

This announcement has raised widespread concerns among human rights groups and the affected communities, as the Council on American-Islamic Relations noted that this potential ban would reinstate discriminatory policies against Muslims and immigrants, which previously sparked significant controversy during Trump's prior administration.

The council called on the U.S. administration and Congress to oppose this decision, emphasizing that it could lead to family separations, deprive students and workers of their legitimate rights, and hinder travel for many lawful citizens.

Legal position and future actions

This policy is expected to face strong legal challenges, similar to the previous travel ban imposed by Trump in 2017, which sparked widespread protests and ended with several legal battles in U.S. courts.

In light of these developments, lawful residents and visa holders from targeted countries are advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid leaving the United States until the situation regarding the new policy becomes clear.