The administration has given nations 60 days to address specific concerns, as outlined in a State Department cable. Currently, a travel ban is in effect for citizens of 19 countries, with President Trump considering an expansion to include up to 36 additional countries, primarily in Africa.
This month, President Trump implemented a full ban on entry to the United States for citizens of 12 countries and a partial ban for seven others, reviving a controversial policy from his first term.
The cable states that, in addition to the 19 countries already affected, the State Department has identified 36 additional nations that must meet certain benchmarks within 60 days. A deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday has been set for these governments to submit remediation plans.
The affected countries are required to take immediate action to address ongoing vetting and screening concerns, develop corrective action plans to rectify deficiencies, and evaluate their progress, according to the cable.
The State Department affirmed its commitment to national security and public safety through its visa process but has not provided further details regarding internal deliberations.
The travel restrictions will impact individuals from more than a dozen countries globally, with the administration contemplating the addition of more nations to the ban.
The cable noted a range of issues that contributed to the countries being listed but did not specify the exact concerns for each nation. Categories of concern included a lack of a competent central government, dubious passport security, high rates of visa overstays, insufficient cooperation in repatriating deportees, and the sale of citizenship to non-residents.
Furthermore, a country could face a travel ban if its citizens are involved in terrorism or exhibit antisemitic and anti-American activities within the United States. However, a country may alleviate concerns by agreeing to accept deportees or act as a “safe third country” for asylum seekers.
The new list of countries potentially impacted includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and PrÃncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The development of this travel ban scheme has been noted to categorize countries into three tiers based on compliance with U.S. security benchmarks. The initial proclamation issued by the administration only reflected full and partial bans, with further classifications remaining undisclosed.
The countries subjected to a complete entry ban currently include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Seven additional nations face restrictions on permanent immigration and certain visa types, though travel for business remains permitted.
This policy of restricting entry for citizens of targeted countries originated from campaign statements made by President Trump in December 2015, advocating for a halt to immigration from Muslim-majority nations until security concerns were adequately addressed.
After taking office in 2017, President Trump enacted a series of travel bans that predominantly targeted Muslim-majority nations but later included other countries as well. Legal challenges initially impeded these actions until a revised version was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court.
In contrast, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. rescinded these bans upon taking office in 2021, emphasizing a return to a more individualized vetting process and criticizing the bans as damaging to national security and international relations.
Upon his return to office in January, President Trump directed the development of a new travel ban, asserting that it was essential to protect Americans from individuals who might pose threats to national security.