In a move that rekindles the contentious travel ban from his first term, former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly expanding the list of countries facing travel restrictions to 43. According to a report by The New York Times, a draft of the updated policy categorizes affected nations into three tiers, with varying levels of restrictions.
Although Trump had pledged to reinstate the travel ban on “day one” of his second term, it was not until January 20 that he issued an executive order instructing cabinet members to compile a list of countries deemed to have “deficient” vetting and screening processes. With the 60-day deadline approaching, the draft list has surfaced, though a White House official told The Independent that no final decision has been made.
A Three-Tier System for Travel Restrictions
The proposed list, reportedly developed by the U.S. State Department weeks ago, categorizes countries into red, orange, and yellow groups based on the level of restriction.
- Red List (Total Ban): The most severe restrictions apply to 11 countries, whose citizens would be completely barred from entering the United States. These nations include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
- Orange List (Limited Entry): Travelers from 10 countries will still be able to enter the U.S. but only under stricter visa requirements, including mandatory in-person interviews. These nations are Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
- Yellow List (Probationary Status): The remaining 22 countries have been given a 60-day window to address the U.S. government’s security concerns. If they fail to comply, they risk being moved to the red or orange categories. This list comprises Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
Security experts and embassy officials at the State Department’s regional bureaus are currently reviewing the draft, assessing the validity of the alleged security deficiencies, and debating whether some categorizations may be politically motivated.
Justifying the Ban: A Controversial Security Measure
Trump’s executive order argues that the travel ban aims to protect American citizens from individuals “who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.” However, critics say the measure disproportionately targets nations with weaker diplomatic ties to the U.S. and fails to provide clear justification for each country’s inclusion.
The policy also marks a significant reversal from the stance of former President Joe Biden, who, on his first day in office in 2021, repealed Trump’s initial travel bans. At the time, Biden denounced the restrictions as “a stain on our national conscience” and inconsistent with America’s history of welcoming immigrants from all backgrounds.
What Comes Next?
The proposed list is not yet finalized and is expected to undergo revisions before being formally introduced. Given the historical controversy surrounding Trump’s travel bans, legal challenges are also anticipated should the policy be enacted.
As the debate continues, the international community watches closely, with affected nations likely to push for diplomatic resolutions to avoid placement on the restricted lists.
