WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump appears poised to expand the travel ban from his first term, with a draft list of 43 countries facing potential full or partial travel restrictions, according to a report by The New York Times.
The State Department has developed the proposed list, which categorises affected nations into three levels of restriction—a move that aligns with Trump’s January 20 executive order directing federal agencies to reassess foreign vetting and screening processes.
Proposed Travel Restrictions
The draft list, which has yet to receive final approval, divides countries into three categories based on the level of restrictions:
- “Red” List (11 Countries) – Complete travel ban for all citizens
- “Orange” List (10 Countries) – Strict visa restrictions, including mandatory in-person interviews
- “Yellow” List (22 Countries) – Given 60 days to improve screening protocols or risk further restrictions
Countries on the Draft Ban List
“Red” List (Full Travel Ban)
Citizens from the following 11 nations would be entirely prohibited from entering the United States.
These countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
“Orange” List (Restricted Travel and Visa Requirements)
Citizens from these 10 countries would still be allowed entry but only under strict conditions, such as mandatory in-person visa interviews.
The countries are Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
“Yellow” List (Under Review, Subject to Further Restrictions)
The “yellow” list includes 22 nations, mostly from Africa and the Caribbean, that have been given 60 days to address U.S. concerns over their vetting procedures.
If they fail to meet new security standards, they could be moved to the “red” or “orange” categories.
These countries include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
White House and State Department Response
A White House official told The Independent that no final decision has been made.
Officials within the State Department’s regional bureaus are currently reviewing the proposal, determining the accuracy of security concerns, and assessing whether certain diplomatic considerations should influence the final list.
Trump’s January 20 executive order outlined the administration’s rationale for reintroducing the travel restrictions, stating that the ban aims to “protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”
The proposed policy echoes Trump’s first-term travel bans, which initially targeted predominantly Muslim-majority countries and were challenged in court before ultimately being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Criticism and Opposition
Opponents of the proposed restrictions, including Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocacy groups, argue that the policy discriminates against certain nationalities and could harm U.S. diplomatic relations.
On his first day in office in 2021, former President Joe Biden reversed Trump’s initial travel ban, calling it “a stain on our national conscience” that contradicted America’s “long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.”
With the final decision on the travel ban still pending, officials say the policy could change significantly before it reaches Trump’s desk.
However, with the 60-day deadline approaching, an announcement from the administration is expected soon.
