Bangladesh, July 26 -- Under a new rule proposed by the Department of Homeland Security, the duration of “I visas” for foreign media will be slashed from renewable multi year periods-often up to five years-to a maximum of 240 days, and just 90 days for Chinese journalists. Renewals would no longer be a routine administrative step, but a discretionary privilege the Trump administration can grant or withhold at will.

Turning visas into a weapon

The Foreign Press Association and other media organizations have warned that such a regime will make it “impossible” for correspondents to do their jobs: they cannot build sources, delve deeply and understand the countrys complex politics, or maintain anything resembling a f...