U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions, potentially banning citizens from 36 additional countries from entering the United States.
The countries include Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, and others across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Caribbean nations such as Saint Lucia and Dominica are also on the list. If these countries fail to address identified security and immigration concerns within 60 days, their citizens could be barred from entering the U.S.
During his first term in office, President Trump announced a ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries—a policy that underwent several revisions before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
President Trump has since signed a proclamation barring the entry of citizens from 12 countries, citing the need to safeguard the United States from “foreign terrorists” and other national security threats.
This directive is part of a broader immigration crackdown launched at the beginning of Trump’s second term. Measures have included the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador on suspicion of gang affiliation, attempts to block the enrolment of certain foreign students in U.S. universities, and efforts to deport others already admitted.
An internal diplomatic cable, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and seen by Reuters, cited various reasons for the heightened scrutiny.
These include weak identity documentation systems, poor passport security, lack of cooperation in deporting nationals, visa overstays, and links to terrorism or anti-American activity.
“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the cable, sent out over the weekend, stated.
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