The Trump administration is considering implementing a new travel ban that could affect citizens from 41 countries, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. The proposed restrictions categorize countries into three groups based on perceived security risks and cooperation with U.S. immigration policies.
Overview of the Travel Ban Proposal
The initiative, currently under review by top officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would impose varying levels of restrictions on different countries. This proposal follows the 2017 travel ban, which primarily targeted Muslim-majority nations and was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.
Three Categories of Affected Countries
Full Visa Suspensions (Total Travel Ban)
Countries in this category would see all visa issuances suspended, meaning no new tourist, student, or work visas would be granted to citizens of these nations.
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Afghanistan
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Iran
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North Korea
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Venezuela
The Trump administration cites security concerns and lack of reliable identity verification measures in these nations as key reasons for the restrictions.
Partial Visa Suspensions (Selective Travel Ban)
These nations would face targeted visa restrictions, where certain visa types—such as tourist, student, or work visas—would be limited or suspended entirely.
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Eritrea
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Haiti
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Laos
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Myanmar
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South Sudan
Officials argue that these countries have failed to fully comply with U.S. immigration enforcement policies or have significant domestic instability that makes vetting difficult.
Conditional Measures (Countries Given a Warning Period)
A third group of 26 countries would be placed on a watchlist, meaning they would be given 60 days to address identified security deficiencies to avoid visa restrictions.
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Algeria
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Angola
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Bangladesh
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Belarus
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Burkina Faso
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Burundi
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Cameroon
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Central African Republic
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Chad
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Djibouti
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Egypt
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Ethiopia
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Gabon
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Guinea
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Iraq
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Lebanon
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Libya
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Mali
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Niger
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Nigeria
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Pakistan
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Somalia
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Sudan
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Syria
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Turkmenistan
These nations would need to improve passport security measures, provide better data on their citizens, and enhance cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement or risk falling into the second or first category.
Political and International Reactions
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The State Department has confirmed discussions are ongoing but declined to comment on specific countries.
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Critics argue the proposal discriminates against Muslim-majority nations and harms diplomatic relations.
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Supporters say it enhances national security and prevents terrorism.
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Many countries on the conditional list have already begun lobbying the U.S. to be removed from the ban.
The proposal is currently under review, and a final decision is expected within the next few weeks. If enacted, it could reshape U.S. immigration policy and create diplomatic challenges with several key allies.