United States Revokes Visa-Exempt Travel Status for Romanian Citizens
Here's the Rewritten Article:
****Update on Romania's Visa-Free Entry to the U.S.
The much-anticipated visa-free travel for Romanians to the U.S. has hit a snag.
Romania stepped onto the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) stage under President Joe Biden in January. However, the curtains came down faster than expected when, in March, former President Donald Trump returned to the White House and cast a shadow over this newfound privilege.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiated a review of Romania's inclusion in the VWP. And now, with a blink of an eye, the department has announced its decision: Romania is out of the VWP.
The department stated, "Given the current administration's focus on border and immigration security, we've chosen to rescind Romania’s VWP inclusion."
Yet, there's a silver lining; if Romania can satisfy the legal criteria, it might get a second chance at the VWP. However, these criteria remain a mystery for now.
_RBC Group_
_Donald Trump's Plans on Deportations_
If a million migrants are wondering where they'll be heading, it's none other than the good ol' U.S.A, according to Trump's plans.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania felt both disappointed and political about the decision. "This decision was made in the heat of the American authorities' immigration crackdown," said the ministry.
Assuring its citizens, the ministry guaranteed that efforts would continue to secure visa-free entry.
In mid-March, The New York Times (NYT) hinted at stricter entry rules for U.S. citizens from 43 countries, including Russia. Factors causing concern in Washington included counties' reluctance to share traveler data, insufficient passport security measures, or illegitimate citizenship sales to individuals on the U.S. banlist.
Fighting illegal immigration was one of Donald Trump's main campaign promises. Upon returning to the White House, he declared a national emergency at the borders and signed several executive orders aimed at countering illegal foreign presence in the U.S.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Romania, despite its inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) under President Joe Biden, has been removed from the VWP due to the current administration's focus on border and immigration security.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania has expressed disappointment and noted political implications regarding the decision to remove Romania from the VWP, stating it was made during the American authorities' immigration crackdown.
- To regain VWP inclusion, Romania must meet specific legal criteria, which remain undisclosed at this time.
- The New York Times has mentioned potential stricter entry rules for U.S. citizens from 43 countries, including Russia, due to concerns about counties' unwillingness to share traveler data, weak passport security measures, or illegitimate citizenship sales to individuals on the U.S. banlist.
- Former President Donald Trump's plans suggest a focus on deporting a million migrants to the United States, a move that further complicates debate and policy-making around immigration and visa policies in the U.S., falling under the broader category of general news and politics.
