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The Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing extensive travel restrictions on citizens from 41 countries as part of a new Travel ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
The memo categorizes these countries into three groups based on the severity of the proposed restrictions. The first group, comprising 10 nations—including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea—would face a full suspension of US visas.
The second group includes five nations—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—that would face partial suspensions affecting tourist, student, and other immigrant visas, albeit with some exceptions.
The third group, consisting of 26 countries such as Pakistan, Bhutan, and Myanmar, may face a partial suspension of US visa issuance unless their governments take steps to “address deficiencies within 60 days,” according to the memo.
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized that the list is not yet final and remains subject to approval by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported details of the proposed travel restrictions, which appear to echo Trump’s first-term travel ban that initially targeted seven Muslim-majority nations. That policy, after several legal challenges and modifications, was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order intensifying security vetting for foreign travelers seeking entry into the United States. The directive instructed various government agencies to compile, by March 21, a list of countries deemed to have “deficient” vetting and screening processes, which could result in either partial or full travel suspensions.
The move is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, a key focus of his second-term agenda. In a speech in October 2023, he previewed his intentions, stating that he would impose restrictions on travelers from regions such as Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”
As of now, the US State Department has not issued an official response regarding the proposed travel bans.
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