The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a major travel ban affecting citizens from dozens of countries, with a total of 41 nations listed for potential restrictions, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
The memo divides the countries into three groups, each facing varying levels of restrictions:
- Full Visa Suspension: The first group includes 10 countries, such as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. These nations would face a complete suspension of U.S. visas.
- Partial Visa Suspension: The second group, consisting of five countries — Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan — would face partial restrictions, impacting tourist and student visas as well as some immigrant visas, with exceptions.
- Potential Visa Suspension: A third group of 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, would face a partial suspension of U.S. visas if their governments do not address identified deficiencies within 60 days.
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the list is subject to change and has not yet been finalized by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The proposed travel restrictions echo the Trump administration’s previous ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries, a policy that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The current initiative is part of an ongoing immigration crackdown initiated at the start of Trump’s second term, which includes heightened security vetting for foreign nationals seeking U.S. entry.
Trump had previewed his intention to restrict travel from regions considered to pose national security risks, including the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, in a speech delivered in October 2023.
The State Department has yet to provide an official response to the report.
