New Visa Restrictions Target 41 Countries 

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Munther Alaskry, accompanied by his wife, Hiba; son, Hassan; and daughter, Dima, gather their luggage as they leave JFK International Airport in New York on Feb. 3. Alaskry and his family arrived after the Trump administration reversed course and said he and other interpreters who had supported the U.S. military could come to America.

United States: The Trump administration is moving forward with a large-scale expansion of travel restrictions, potentially barring citizens from dozens of nations, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo obtained by Reuters. 

Three-Tiered Ban System Introduced 

The memo categorizes 41 countries into three groups: 

  • Full Visa Ban: Citizens from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea would face a complete visa ban. 
  • Partial Visa Restrictions: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan would see limitations on visitor, student, and other immigrant visas—excluding diplomatic categories. 
  • Conditional Suspensions: Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and 24 other nations risk visa suspensions unless they improve security measures within 60 days.

Final Approval Pending 

While the list is subject to change, final approval rests with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration. The New York Times was the first to publicly report on the proposed restrictions. 

Echoes of Previous Travel Bans 

The policy demonstrates similarities to the travel ban enacted by Trump in 2017 that first focused on seven Muslim countries before Supreme Court approval in 2018. 

New Executive Order Expands Screening 

The executive order executed by Trump during January 20 required increased airport security protocols for all visa applicants. U.S. cabinet members need to decide by March 21 which countries will have their entry to the U.S. either fully restricted or partially restricted based on security evaluations, as reported by Reuters. 

A Broader Immigration Crackdown 

The initiative aligns with Trump’s second-term immigration policies, which include a proposal from October 2023 to block entry from individuals in the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other nations deemed security risks.