The Trump administration is considering new travel restrictions for citizens of 41 countries. Reuters reviewed an internal memo detailing the proposal.
Groups of affected countries
The memo divides the countries into three groups. The first group includes 10 countries, such as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. Citizens from these nations would face a full visa suspension.
The second group consists of five states: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan. Travel restrictions would apply to tourist, student, and other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
The third group includes 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. If these countries do not address certain security issues within 60 days, the US may impose partial visa suspensions.
A US official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that the list could change. The proposal is still pending approval from the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported on the list of affected countries.
Context and directives
This potential travel ban mirrors the policy introduced during Trump’s first term. It targeted travellers from seven majority-Muslim nations. The policy went through several revisions before the US Supreme Court upheld it in 2018.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order to tighten security vetting for foreign nationals seeking entry to the US. The order aims to identify national security risks.
Trump’s directive also instructed cabinet members to submit a list by March 21. The list would identify countries where travel restrictions are necessary due to inadequate screening.
This directive is part of Trump’s broader immigration policy introduced at the start of his second term. In October 2023, he signalled his intention to restrict entry from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other security-threatened areas.
