Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a sweeping expansion of travel restrictions targeting citizens from 41 countries, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the list remains subject to change and has yet to receive final approval. The New York Times first reported details of the proposal.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating stricter security screening for foreign travelers. The order directs cabinet officials to submit by March 21 a list of nations deemed to have inadequate vetting processes, potentially resulting in full or partial travel bans.
The proposed directive reflects Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, a cornerstone of his second-term agenda. In an October 2023 speech, he previewed plans to restrict travel from regions considered security risks, including Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
According to the memo, the restrictions would fall into three categories:
Full Visa Suspensions (10 countries): Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Partial Visa Suspensions (5 countries): Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—affecting tourist, student, and certain immigrant visas.
Potential Restrictions Pending Security Reviews (26 countries): Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Senegal, Tanzania, and Turkmenistan.
The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment on the proposed measures.
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