The Trump administration is evaluating a sweeping travel restriction plan that could affect citizens from 41 different countries as part of a broader immigration policy overhaul.
According to a report from Reuters, which cited both sources and an internal government memo, the proposed restrictions would divide the targeted nations into three separate categories, each facing varying degrees of visa limitations.
The first category includes 10 countries, among them Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, which could experience a full suspension of visa issuance, effectively blocking their citizens from obtaining entry into the U.S.
In the second tier, five nations—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan would be subjected to partial visa restrictions, affecting tourist, student, and some immigrant visas, though specific exemptions could apply.
The third group, consisting of 26 nations, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, would face temporary visa suspensions unless their governments take steps within 60 days to resolve security and screening concerns identified by U.S. authorities.
An anonymous U.S. official cautioned that the list is not final and could still be revised. The proposal requires approval from top government figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The policy echoes Donald Trump’s initial travel ban in 2017, which originally restricted entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries. That ban was later modified multiple times before being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.
This latest effort aligns with Trump’s executive order from January 20, which mandates stricter security vetting for foreign nationals in order to detect potential threats to national security.
The directive requires cabinet officials to submit a formal list of countries by March 21 that should face complete or partial travel suspensions due to “deficient” screening and vetting procedures.
Trump’s policy push is part of a broader immigration crackdown he initiated at the beginning of his second term. He first signaled this move during a speech in October 2023, pledging to restrict travel from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”
