President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly considering expanding its existing travel restrictions to include citizens from an additional 36 countries. This information comes from a confidential State Department cable obtained by Reuters.
A Growing List of Travel Restrictions
The proposed expansion follows a recent proclamation signed by Trump, which already restricts or fully bans entry from 19 nations. Twelve countries, including Iran, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia, are subject to a full entry ban, while seven others—such as Venezuela and Cuba—face partial travel restrictions.
These moves, the administration says, are aimed at bolstering national security in the face of terrorism threats and inconsistent identity verification processes.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump stated in a video shared to X (formerly Twitter), adding that many of the countries in question “harbor terrorists” or have poor vetting systems.
The 36 Nations Under Review
According to the internal memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the 36 countries now under scrutiny include Egypt, Nigeria, Angola, Syria, and Ethiopia. These nations have 60 days to meet U.S. standards or risk being added to the list of banned or partially banned nations.
Concerns raised include high instances of passport fraud, lack of cooperation in deportation efforts, and excessive visa overstays.
“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 cable reads.
