The Trump administration is considering a significant expansion of U.S. travel restrictions, potentially barring citizens from 36 additional countries, according to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning entry for citizens of 12 nations, citing the need to protect the U.S. from “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.
The move is part of a broader immigration crackdown launched at the start of Trump’s second term, which has included deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador over suspected gang ties and restricting foreign student enrollments at U.S. universities.
In the cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the department outlined concerns about the countries and sought corrective action.
“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the weekend cable stated.
The Washington Post first reported the cable.
Among the concerns were inadequate government cooperation in producing reliable identity documents and questionable passport security, the cable said. Some nations were also uncooperative in repatriating citizens ordered removed from the U.S., while others had high visa overstay rates.
Additional concerns included nationals linked to terrorism, antisemitism or anti-American activity. The cable noted not all issues applied to every listed country.
“We are constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans and that foreign nationals follow our laws,” a senior State Department official said, declining to discuss internal deliberations.
“The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the official added.
Countries facing potential full or partial bans if concerns aren’t addressed within 60 days are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The expansion would build on this month’s ban affecting Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and eight others. Partial restrictions already apply to seven additional nations, including Cuba and Venezuela.
Trump first introduced a travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries in 2017. After multiple revisions, the Supreme Court upheld the policy in 2018.