By Bill W. Cooper
The United States government has placed Liberia on a “yellow list” alongside 21 other countries, to face a potential travel ban, including visa restrictions, among others.
The designation signals that these nations could be banned from travelling to America if they fail to comply with U.S. requirements regarding the sharing of information about incoming travelers, the security practices surrounding passport issuance, and the prevention of citizenship sales to individuals from countries subject to U.S. travel restrictions.
The implications of this decision are profound, affecting not only the travel industry but also the broader socio-economic landscape of Liberia, a country still recovering from the scars of 14 years of civil unrest.
America, under the stewardship of Donald Trump, mentioned the yellow list during his first term in office in 2020 as part of his efforts to enhance national security and prevent potential threats from entering the country.
However, countries on this list are given a 60-day window to address specific concerns raised by U.S. authorities, and if these nations fail to meet the outlined requirements, they could face travel bans that would restrict their citizens’ ability to enter the United States.
Liberia, a nation with a complex history and ongoing challenges, finds itself in a precarious position, and even though the country has made strides in rebuilding its infrastructure and governance since the end of its civil wars, it is still struggling with issues related to corruption, security, and economic stability.
The U.S. has historically been a key partner in Liberia’s development, providing aid and support in various sectors, but this yellow list designation raises questions about the effectiveness of Liberia’s security practices and its ability to meet U.S. expectations.
According to a New York Times report, the draft list also categorizes countries into three tiers based on the severity of restrictions: Red Tier: Citizens from 11 countries would face a complete ban on travel to the US.
In the Orange Tier, Visa approvals for citizens of certain countries would be sharply restricted, and in the Yellow Tier, countries would be given 60 days to address concerns before potential restrictions are imposed.
The “red” list, which imposes the most stringent restrictions, includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. These nations would see their citizens barred entirely from entering the U.S.
While the “orange” tier, which involves significant visa restrictions, includes Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
The “yellow” tier includes countries such as Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Others are Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe. These nations would have 60 days to address U.S. concerns before any restrictions are finalized.
The New York Times report further quoted officials as saying that the draft is still under review and subject to change before any final order is issued, and if implemented, the new travel ban would mark a significant expansion of the administration’s earlier restrictions, which primarily targeted Majority-Muslim nations and sparked widespread controversy.
In a related development, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs will, today, March 17, 2025, hold a public hearing with Foreign Affairs Minister Sarah Beyslow Nyanti and the team at 2:00 p.m. in the Chambers of the Senate.
The hearing seeks to address some concerning issues relative to Liberia’s foreign relations, deployment of foreign service officials, the well-being of Liberian Students in Morocco and other parts of the world, and the Japanese Grant.
Also forming part of the hearing are the latest concerns being raised by the US Governing regarding “Visa Restriction” on Liberia, which needs the government’s prompt intervention to be amicably resolved.
Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, who chairs the Committee on Foreign Affairs said, “We acknowledge that some of the issues of concern were inherited, and instead of casting blame here and there, we will have to take the responsibility to correct them because that is why we are now in charge as a government!”
Meanwhile, the next 60 days will be critical for the country and its citizenry as the government works to address the concerns raised by U.S. authorities and avoid the potential consequences of a travel ban.
By prioritizing passport security, enhancing information-sharing practices, and reevaluating citizenship policies, as was promised by Minister Nyanti, Liberia can demonstrate its commitment to national security and strengthen its relationship with the U.S.