The administration of United States President Donald Trump is considering expanding its travel ban to include citizens from 36 additional countries, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by major media outlets.
Earlier this month, President Trump signed a proclamation barring entry for nationals from 12 countries.
The White House said this move was needed to protect the United States against “foreign terrorists” and other national security threats.
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The new proposal could more than triple the number of countries affected.
The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sent to US diplomats on Saturday (14 Jun 2025).
It lists 36 countries of concern. These countries have 60 days to meet new security and identity verification standards or face a full or partial entry ban, reported Reuters.
Countries at Risk
The 36 countries under review include 25 African nations. Some are US partners, such as Egypt and Djibouti.
Others are from the Caribbean, Central Asia, and Pacific Island territories. The full list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This comes on top of the 12 countries already banned earlier this month: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Partial restrictions are already in place for travellers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Reasons for Expansion
The memo cites several reasons for the expanded list.
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Some countries have “no competent or cooperative central government authority” to issue reliable identity documents. Others have a high number of citizens who have overstayed their visas in the United States.
Additional concerns include poor passport security, lack of cooperation in deportation cases, and involvement of some nationals in terrorist, antisemitic, or anti-American activities.
Not every concern applies to every country on the list. Each nation will need to address the issues within 60 days to avoid being added to the expanded ban list.
Implementation Timeline
The memo sets a 60-day deadline for the targeted nations to comply with the new requirements. An initial plan of action must be submitted by 8am, Wednesday, Washington, D.C. time (8pm, Wednesday, Singapore time).
If the countries do not meet the US benchmarks within the deadline, they could face bans similar to those enacted earlier this month.
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Recent Enforcement Actions
Since the start of his second term, President Trump has intensified immigration enforcement.
This includes deporting thousands of Venezuelans suspected of gang activity back to El Salvador, restricting enrollment for some international students, and deporting others.
The State Department and the White House have not publicly commented on the details of the memo. The Washington Post was the first to report on the cable.
Countries at Risk of Travel Ban
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Africa | Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Caribbean | Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia |
| Asia | Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan |
| Pacific | Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
| Middle East | Syria |
The Trump administration’s travel ban expansion remains under review. The affected countries have until mid-August 2025 to respond to the US government’s requirements.
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