Trump Travel Ban: Expanded List Possible – NPR
- The Trump administration is considering a new round of travel restrictions, potentially impacting about two dozen African nations, as well as countries in Central Asia, the Caribbean, and...
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the memo, first reported by The washington Post.
- According to the memo, some of the nations are designated as state sponsors of terror, or their citizens have been involved in terrorist acts in the U.S.
The Trump administration is poised to expand its travel ban,potentially restricting entry from several african,Central Asian,Caribbean,and Pacific nations. Discover which countries are under scrutiny and the reasons behind the potential ban, focusing on national security concerns and vetting processes. Learn about Secretary of State Marco Rubio‘s memo identifying nations failing to meet U.S. requirements,and the potential consequences for their citizens. News Directory 3 delivers the scoop. What will be the ultimate impact of this updated travel ban? Find out soon.
Trump administration Considers New Travel Ban Targeting Dozens of Nations
Updated June 16, 2025
The Trump administration is considering a new round of travel restrictions, potentially impacting about two dozen African nations, as well as countries in Central Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. A memo sent to diplomats in these countries demands they detail plans by Wednesday to address U.S. concerns and comply with new State Department requirements regarding vetting and screening processes.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the memo, first reported by The washington Post. It identifies 36 countries with deficient details that could warrant a partial or full suspension of entry for their citizens into the U.S. This move is the latest in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has included increased deportations.
According to the memo, some of the nations are designated as state sponsors of terror, or their citizens have been involved in terrorist acts in the U.S. Other nations allegedly lack credible government authority to produce reliable identity documents, maintain unreliable criminal records, or are beset by widespread government fraud. Visa overstays and citizens involved in antisemitic or anti-American activity in the U.S.are also cited as concerns. Countries failing to address these issues could face a travel ban as early as August. The proposed travel ban is intended to address national security concerns.
department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said limiting entry from these countries “will help secure the American homeland and make our communities safer.”
The memo also emphasizes the need for foreign governments to be ”fully cooperative” in removing foreign nationals when it is “vital to U.S. national security.” Concerns could be “mitigated” if a country accepts deportees from the U.S. who cannot be sent back to their country of origin.
“This is a necessary step to garner cooperation from foreign governments to accept deportation flights of their own citizens, strengthen national security, and help restore integrity to the immigration system,” McLaughlin said.
Critics of President Trump’s previous travel bans have criticized them as discriminatory, targeting African and Muslim-majority nations.
The countries listed in the memo as facing potential bans are: Angola,antigua and Barbuda,Benin,bhutan,Burkina Faso,Cabo Verde,Cambodia,Cameroon,Côte D’Ivoire,Democratic Republic of Congo,Djibouti,Dominica,Ethiopia,Egypt,Gabon,The Gambia,Ghana,Kyrgyzstan,Liberia,Malawi,Mauritania,Niger,Nigeria,Saint Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia,Sao tome and Principe,Senegal,South Sudan,Syria,Tanzania,Tonga,Tuvalu,Uganda,Vanuatu,Zambia,and Zimbabwe.
Nations already fully banned as of June 4 include afghanistan,Myanmar,Chad,Republic of Congo,equatorial Guinea,Eritrea,Haiti,Iran,Libya,Somalia,Sudan,and Yemen. Those partially banned are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
During his first term,Trump banned travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries,but the order was rescinded under the biden administration.