New Proposal May Suspend or Limit Visas for 41 Countries
The Trump administration is considering a major expansion of travel restrictions, potentially affecting citizens from 41 countries, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. If approved, the policy could partially or fully suspend visa issuance, significantly tightening immigration regulations.
Three-Tiered Travel Ban Proposal
The proposal divides affected countries into three categories based on the severity of visa restrictions:
- Full Visa Suspension:
- Citizens from 10 countries would face a complete ban on US visa issuance.
- Affected nations: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen.
- Partial Visa Suspension (Tourist, Student & Other Select Visas):
- Five nations would see restrictions on tourist, student, and select immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
- Affected nations: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, South Sudan.
- Conditional Visa Suspension:
- 26 countries risk partial visa restrictions if they fail to address security deficiencies within 60 days.
- Affected nations: 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.
Policy Origins & Potential Impact
This proposal echoes Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which initially targeted seven majority-Muslim countries and was later upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
- Trump’s January 20 executive order directed stricter security vetting for foreign nationals entering the US.
- Cabinet members were instructed to submit a list of countries for potential travel restrictions by March 21.
- The administration claims that some nations fail to provide adequate security and background checks, posing a national security risk.
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Ongoing Review & Potential Revisions
- The list remains subject to review by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top officials.
- An unnamed US official indicated that changes could still be made before the final announcement.
- The State Department has yet to respond, but the policy is expected to face strong international criticism.
The New York Times was the first to report on this proposal.
