A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, stated that the list of affected countries is subject to change and has not yet received approval from the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order requiring heightened security screening for foreign nationals seeking entry into the United States. The order instructed cabinet members to submit a list of countries for partial or full travel suspensions by March 21 due to concerns over inadequate vetting processes.
The directive aligns with Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which he announced at the start of his second term. During an October 2023 speech, Trump indicated plans to limit travel from nations such as Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, citing security threats.
According to the memo, the proposed restrictions fall into three categories:
- Full Visa Suspension (10 Countries): Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
- Partial Suspension on Tourist, Student, and Some Immigrant Visas (5 Countries): Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan.
- Potential Partial Suspension if Security Concerns Aren’t Addressed (26 Countries): Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Senegal, Tanzania, and Turkmenistan.
The U.S. State Department has yet to comment on the proposed restrictions.
