US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation further restricting entry of foreign nationals into the country, the White House announced, Reuters reported.
Washington has imposed full or partial restrictions on entry of citizens from seven countries - Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Syria, Sierra Leone and South Sudan, in addition to the initial list of 12 countries, the White House announced.
Full restrictions have also been imposed on persons holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
The US has designated the Colombian gang Clan del Golfo, which is currently the largest illegal armed group in the country, as a terrorist organization, Reuters reported, citing cited a statement on the US Treasury Department website.
The administration of President Donald Trump has in recent months increasingly classified criminal groups from South America as terrorist organizations. The goal is to increase sanctions and costs for anyone who supports them. According to Washington, these structures are behind the trafficking of drugs and illegal migrants to the United States.
Last year, the administration of former President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on leading figures in the "Clan del Golfo".
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the group as a "cruel and powerful criminal organization" whose main source of income is cocaine trafficking, and accused it of carrying out terrorist attacks on Colombian territory.
"The United States will continue to use all available tools to defend its country and stop the campaigns of violence and terror led by international cartels and transnational criminal organizations," Rubio said.
"Clan del Golfo" is holding talks in Qatar with the government of leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro. They are part of his controversial plan to achieve peace after nearly six decades of armed conflict in the country. Petro's term ends in August next year.
The government's chief negotiator told Reuters last week that any deal would almost certainly see the group's leaders face effective prison sentences. He added that authorities were trying to make progress in the talks irreversible before a new administration takes office next year.
In recent years, the "Clan del Golfo" has tried to position itself as a political organization, similar to other armed groups in Colombia, which would provide it with a different status and terms in peace talks. However, the group is not believed to have clear and specific political goals, Reuters noted.