The U.S. government is weighing the possibility of expanding its travel restrictions to include up to 36 additional countries, potentially tripling the number of nations currently facing full or partial entry bans.
A memo from the State Department, addressed to diplomatic missions in regions such as Africa, Central Asia, the Caribbean, and several Pacific Island countries, outlines the requirement for those nations to respond by Wednesday with plans to address U.S. security concerns and comply with new screening and verification standards.
Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo notes that these countries have been identified as having significant deficiencies in their identity verification and background screening procedures, which may justify full or partial suspensions of entry to the United States.
The document highlights several areas of concern, including unreliable criminal records, inability to issue trustworthy identity documents, high rates of visa overstays, and instances of individuals linked to illegal activity in the U.S., including terrorism, antisemitism, or anti-American actions. It also notes cases of widespread government fraud in some of the listed nations.
Countries that fail to meet the new standards may be subject to travel restrictions as early as August.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, these steps are aimed at strengthening national security and safeguarding U.S. communities. The memo also emphasizes the importance of foreign governments cooperating in the repatriation of their nationals who are subject to deportation from the U.S., as such cooperation may influence the decision on whether restrictions are implemented.
While these measures have drawn criticism in the past—particularly for disproportionately affecting African and Muslim-majority countries—U.S. officials maintain that the proposed actions are necessary to ensure the integrity of the immigration system and protect national security.
Countries that may face new travel limitations include: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte 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.
Nations already under full travel bans as of June 4 include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Countries under partial restrictions include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
