Washington (Reuters) – The Trump administration is considering imposing sweeping travel restrictions on citizens from 41 countries, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
The proposed plan divides the countries into three groups. The first group includes ten countries, such as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, which would face a full suspension of visas. The second group consists of five countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—that would experience partial suspensions affecting tourist and student visas, along with some immigrant visas.
The third group includes a total of 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, which would face a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if their governments do not take steps to address deficiencies within 60 days.
Cautions About Potential Changes
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the list could change and that it still requires approval from the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This move is part of an immigration crackdown that Trump launched at the beginning of his second term.
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A Reminder of Past Policies
This initiative harkens back to Trump’s original travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries, a policy that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting for any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.
Future Commitments
In an October 2023 speech, Trump previewed his plan, pledging to restrict entry for individuals from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”
Reactions and Implications
While the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters, this potential move could significantly impact the United States’ diplomatic and economic relations with the listed countries.
As discussions continue, observers are eager to see how these restrictions will affect migration patterns and international relations.
