For countries like The Gambia, ensuring that these documents are credible, secure, and internationally trusted is no longer optional—it is essential.
Mr. President, recent reports indicate that the United States Government is reviewing or expanding travel restrictions on several countries due to deficiencies in civil documentation systems, failure to repatriate nationals subject to removal orders, and concerns over identity fraud. These restrictions are not arbitrary. They are grounded in specific national security considerations, many of which revolve around the authenticity and reliability of official documents.
Mr. President, Why Document Integrity Matters
Border Security and Migration Control:
The U.S. and other countries rely heavily on the verifiability of travel documents to determine eligibility for visas, residence, and asylum. A birth certificate or passport that cannot be authenticated raises red flags for fraud or impersonation.
International Reputation and Mobility:
Citizens from countries with poorly secured or easily forged identity documents often face stricter visa regimes, delayed processing, and even denial of entry. This hurts students, professionals, and businesspeople.
Cooperation in Deportation and Repatriation:
Under U.S. law (Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), if a country refuses or fails to promptly issue travel documents for its nationals being deported, the U.S. may suspend visa issuance to citizens of that country.
What Must Be Done
The Gambia must take proactive measures to safeguard the sanctity of its national documents and avoid being categorised as a high-risk travel origin. This includes:
• Modernizing the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system to ensure every citizen is accurately documented from birth.
• Implementing biometric national ID systems and machine-readable passports in line with ICAO standards.
• Digitising records and securing national databases to prevent tampering and loss.
• Strengthening institutional collaboration between the Immigration Department, Births & Deaths Registry, IEC, and the Ministry of Health.
• Establishing robust protocols for verifying identity in deportation and extradition cases.
A Strategic Imperative
Safeguarding document integrity is not merely an administrative or technical task—it is a strategic national security imperative. It influences The Gambia’s bilateral relations, affects access to global opportunities, and shapes the perception of our institutions abroad.
As the U.S. considers expanding its list of countries subject to travel restrictions, The Gambia must not be caught off guard. Now is the time to act decisively to strengthen our identity systems, protect our sovereignty, and defend the global mobility rights of Gambian citizens.
Mr. President, as we rest our case for now, The Point will continue to shine a light on such pressing issues and urge all relevant authorities to take swift, coordinated, and meaningful action.
Good day!