The Trump administration is weighing broad travel restrictions for citizens of dozens of countries as part of a potential new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo obtained by Reuters.
The memo outlines 41 countries divided into three categories. The first group, comprising 10 nations including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, would face a full visa suspension.
A second group of five countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—would be subject to partial suspensions affecting tourist, student, and immigrant visas, with certain exceptions.
A third group, consisting of 26 nations such as Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, could face partial visa suspensions if their governments fail to address security and vetting concerns within 60 days, the memo states.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the list is subject to change and has not yet received final approval from the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The **New York Times** first reported on the proposed travel restrictions.
The move mirrors President Donald Trump’s 2017 travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that underwent multiple legal challenges before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 mandating enhanced security screening for foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. The order required cabinet officials to submit a list by March 21 identifying countries where vetting procedures were deemed inadequate, warranting partial or full travel suspensions.
The proposed restrictions are part of a broader immigration crackdown initiated at the start of Trump’s second term. In an October 2023 speech, he previewed his plan, vowing to restrict travel from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other regions deemed national security risks.
The State Department has not responded to a request for comment from Reuters.
