The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to impose new travel restrictions on 36 additional countries, according to a classified State Department cable. If enforced, the move would more than double the number of nations facing full or partial entry bans into the United States, with a heavy focus on African and Caribbean nations.
The directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and circulated over the weekend, gives affected countries until 8 a.m. Wednesday to submit initial plans for meeting tough new security and identity verification standards.
Africa Tops the Watchlist
The memo reveals that 25 of the 36 countries under review are located in Africa, including Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. In the Caribbean, nations such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia are named. Additional countries on the list include Syria, Bhutan, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
These countries risk being added to the U.S. travel ban list if they fail to comply with the new benchmarks within 60 days—similar to restrictions imposed under a separate executive order issued earlier this month.
Key Concerns: Overstays, Fraud, and Deportation Refusals
The internal cable outlines several issues prompting the proposed bans. It states that the 36 countries “may be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry” if they don’t meet U.S. standards on border security and identity documentation.
Some nations are flagged for lacking a functional or cooperative government authority capable of issuing trustworthy identity documents. Others face scrutiny over high rates of visa overstays, widespread corruption, refusal to accept deported nationals, or unreliable passport systems.
The memo also criticizes certain countries for offering controversial “citizenship-by-investment” programs and mentions instances of “antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States” allegedly linked to some nationals.
Travel Bans as a Political Strategy
This new crackdown follows a June 4 executive order from former President Donald Trump that barred entry from 12 countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, and Somalia, and imposed restrictions on seven others.
Trump’s use of travel bans as a tool of immigration control and national security has been a hallmark of his administration, dating back to his first term when he imposed sweeping bans on several Muslim-majority countries—moves that sparked domestic and international backlash.
The expanded list signals a broader push to tighten U.S. immigration policies, with growing focus on identity verification, document authenticity, and cooperation on deportation matters.
