The Trump administration is contemplating extensive travel restrictions affecting citizens from 41 countries, as revealed by an internal memo obtained by Reuters.
The proposed measures categorize nations into three distinct groups, each subject to varying levels of visa limitations.
Full Visa Suspension
The first group comprises 11 countries facing a complete suspension of visa issuances:
- Afghanistan
- Cuba
- Iran
- Libya
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Partial Visa Suspension
The second group includes five countries that would experience partial visa suspensions, affecting categories such as tourist and student visas:
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Laos
- Myanmar
- South Sudan
Conditional Measures
The third group consists of 25 countries that are advised to address specific security deficiencies within 60 days to avoid potential visa restrictions:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gambia
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Pakistan
- Republic of the Congo
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Sierra Leone
- East Timor
- Turkmenistan
- Vanuatu
This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance national security by addressing concerns related to inadequate passport security and insufficient traveler data sharing. The proposal expands upon the travel bans implemented during President Trump’s first term, reflecting ongoing efforts to mitigate perceived security threats.
Critics of the proposed measures question the inclusion of certain countries and the exclusion of others, such as China and India. The policy, pending final approval, may allow exceptions for affluent business travelers following in-person interviews. Additionally, there are plans to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a “gold card” visa priced at $5 million, targeting wealthy foreigners to stimulate the U.S. economy through substantial investments and job creation.
As of now, the proposal awaits final approval from key administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The situation remains fluid, and changes to the list of affected countries are possible.
