The Trump administration is considering a significant expansion of travel restrictions that could impact citizens from 41 countries, according to an internal memo and sources familiar with the discussions. The proposed policy, which includes a tiered system of visa suspensions, marks a potential escalation in the administration’s immigration restrictions.
The memo divides the affected countries into three categories. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, would face a full suspension of US visa issuance. The second group of five nations, including Eritrea and Haiti, would see partial suspensions, impacting tourist, student, and select immigrant visas. The third group of 26 countries, including Pakistan and Belarus, could face partial suspensions if they do not address security and vetting concerns within 60 days.
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The proposed travel ban echoes former President Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which targeted several majority-Muslim countries and faced legal challenges before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The new policy is part of a broader effort to intensify security vetting of foreign nationals entering the US, citing concerns that some countries fail to provide adequate security information.
The administration’s proposal is still under review, and US officials stress that changes could be made before the policy is formally announced. If implemented, the travel ban is expected to draw international criticism, particularly from affected nations and human rights organizations.
