By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke said: “All of us are seriously alarmed,” in response to Tonga being targeted for US travel bans, as one of 36 countries on reportedly issued by the Trump Administration last weekend.

“This is one of the serious issues that is of concern to us not only internally but also to our people there in America – all of are seriously alarmed!” he told a press conference at his offices this afternoon, in answer to questions raised.

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently working with the US Consulate in Nuku’alofa, to deliver a response to the US Government regarding the issue.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently working with the US Consulate [on the issue] and when it’s ready they [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] will inform us about the state of the situation.”

He said the US did not provide an official deadline for a response to the notification.

However, the Prime Minister said we can expect a response from his government early next week.

“There is yet to be a confirmation [of an official deadline] and that’s what they’re discussing now – and all of that information should be available early next week.”

36 countries

The Trump administration has given 36 countries, most of them in Africa, a deadline to commit to improve vetting of travelers or face a ban on their citizens visiting the United States [2].

According to reports [3] in US news media, a weekend diplomatic cable sent by the State Department instructs embassies and consulates in the 36 countries to gauge their host countries’ willingness by Wednesday (18 July) to improve their citizens’ travel documentation and take steps to address the status of their nationals who are in the United States illegally.

The cable, which was described to The Associated Press, asks the countries to take action to address the U.S. concerns within 60 days or risk being added to the current travel ban [4], which now includes 12 nations. Of the 36 new countries targeted, 25 are in Africa. Only three are in the Pacific Islands: Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

It is the latest step by the Trump administration to crack down on those who overstay their visas and tying U.S. entries from certain countries to potential national security risks. Trump has said some countries have “deficient” screening and vetting or have historically refused to take back their own citizens.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce declined to comment on the specifics in the cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post. She confirmed that the administration wanted nations to improve their own vetting processes for passport holders, accept their nationals deported from the U.S. [5] and take other steps to ensure their citizens are not a threat to the U.S.

US travel ban targets:

1. Angola
2. Antigua and Barbuda
3. Benin
4. Bhutan
5. Burkina Faso
6. Cambodia
7. Cameroon
8. Cape Verde
9. The Democratic Republic of Congo
10. Djibouti
11. Dominica
12. Ethiopia
13. Egypt
14. Gabon
15. Gambia
16. Ghana
17. Ivory Coast
18. Kyrgyzstan
19. Liberia
20. Malawi
21. Mauritania
22. Niger
23. Nigeria
24. St. Kitts and Nevis
25. St. Lucia
26. Sao Tome and Principe
27. Senegal
28. South Sudan
29. Syria
30. Tanzania
31. Tonga
32. Tuvalu
33. Uganda
34. Vanuatu
35. Zambia
36. Zimbabwe