The Trump administration is considering broad travel restrictions on citizens from 41 countries, marking a major escalation in US immigration policy, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters.
The proposed travel ban divides countries into three categories, each facing varying levels of visa restrictions:
- Full Visa Suspension (10 Countries)
The first group of countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, would face complete visa bans, preventing their citizens from traveling to the United States under any visa category.
- Partial Visa Restrictions (5 Countries)
A second group, including Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would see partial suspensions, limiting access to tourist visas, student visas, and certain immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
- Conditional Suspension (26 Countries)
A third group, which includes Pakistan, Bhutan, and Myanmar, could face visa restrictions if their governments fail to address security and screening deficiencies within 60 days.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Intensifies
The proposed ban is part of Donald Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown, which he outlined in an October 2023 speech. During that address, he pledged to restrict travel from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and any nation deemed a security threat.
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On January 20, Trump issued an executive order directing heightened security vetting for foreign nationals entering the US. This order required key cabinet officials to submit a list of high-risk countries by March 21, identifying those with insufficient vetting and screening measures.
Echoes of Trump’s 2017 Travel Ban
This new policy mirrors Trump’s controversial first-term travel ban, which initially targeted seven Muslim-majority nations and was challenged in court before the Supreme Court upheld it in 2018.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the final country list could change before being approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration.
State Department Yet to Respond
The State Department has not yet issued an official statement regarding the proposed restrictions. However, reports indicate that the administration is determined to push forward with stricter immigration policies as part of its national security agenda.
With the March 21 deadline approaching, Trump’s travel ban 2.0 is set to spark fresh global debate over its impact on diplomacy, trade, and international relations.
