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THE TRUMP administration is considering expanding the policy restricting international travel to include 36 more countries.
This information was revealed in an internal diplomatic document signed by Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, who detailed 12 indicators of concern for prospective prohibited countries and gave them 60 days to make concrete improvements.
“The department has identified 36 countries of concern that could be recommended for full or partial entry prohibitions if they do not meet established standards,” Reuters quoted the document as saying on Monday (06/16), 2025.
The threatened countries include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Egypt, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Syria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
If implemented, this would significantly expand the prohibitions imposed earlier this month on Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. Partial restrictions have been applied to countries such as Cuba, Laos, and Venezuela.
The U.S. has expressed concern about several issues, including weak government capacity to issue reliable identity documents, questionable passport security, and lack of cooperation in deporting citizens set for repatriation.
Some countries have also been accused of high levels of visa abuse and of their citizens’ alleged involvement in terrorism, antisemitism, and anti-American activities. However, the document confirmed that not all reasons apply to each country on the list.
“We continue to re-evaluate this policy to ensure the safety of American citizens and fairly uphold immigration law,” said a senior Department of Foreign Affairs official. He refused to comment further on the contents of the internal discussion.
The official added that the Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to maintaining national security through strict visa processes and upholding public safety.
At the beginning of this month, President Trump signed a proclamation prohibiting the entry of citizens from 12 countries under the pretext of preventing foreign terrorist threats and maintaining national security.
This policy is part of the agenda to tighten immigration in the second period of his leadership. Some of the strict measures taken include the mass deportation of Venezuelans allegedly affiliated with criminal gangs to El Salvador and restrictions and revocations of permits for foreign students on U.S. campuses.
During his first term, Trump also imposed a ban on entry for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. After undergoing various revisions, this controversial policy was passed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. [sources/photo special]
