The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.
The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.
In the second group, five countries -- Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan -- would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days", the memo said.
A U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.
The move harkens back to President Donald Trump's first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.
That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."
Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.
He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security."
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
17 Comments
HopeSpringsEternal
Good idea, based on the data to keep America SAFE!
DJT was elected to secure the borders and stop invasion of illegal aliens, many of whom are dangerous criminals.
deanzaZZR
What the heck has Laos done to get the partial ban hammer? I guess they need to thank Trump for all the bombs dropped on their country and the remaining unexploded ordinance.
bass4funk
Ask him or write a letter to the WH. There is always a reason.
??
Blacklabel
“China, Laos sign MOU to jointly promote Global Security Initiative”
lincolnman
More "fluff" to deflect from and obscure the real policy changes....gutting Medicare and Social Security - and giving he and his ultra-rich buds a "yuuuuge" tax break...
Keep the MAGA-faithfull bamboozled and distracted - while you fire and replace them from their jobs, gut their healthcare, bankrupt them with inflation, and kill their retirement investments with a tanking stock market...
patkim
Amazing that Russia is not on that list. It's not even on the list for partial suspension. Frankly, I wouldn't want to go near Russia with all the U.S. citizens they arrest, and human rights abuses. Not to mention the freedoms you don't have there.
https://www.reuters.com/world/countries-considered-trumps-potential-new-travel-ban-2025-03-15/
bass4funk
Why would they be?
Yeah, just p*** off the largest nuke nation on the planet who is now waging a war against a weak and badly beaten Ukraine and we want give the guy more incentive to continue this war by doubling down on his craziness, that will help and that's why the Dems are not in charge, the don't understand the carrot and stick approach.
Nibek32
Nobody wants to go to America anyway. It’s filthy, bad food, over priced, high chance of getting assaulted or shot. Not to mention the risk of being thrown in jail for speaking negatively about the trump regime. America has lost its appeal.
Nibek32
Americans are the most dangerous ones though.
wallace
Very strange to include
Saint Kitts and Nevis pop:47,000
Saint Lucia pop:180,000
Sao Tome and Principe pop:230,000
Small population countries. They probably refused a Trump hotel resort.
bass4funk
We had over 20 million come in, my God, what are you talking about??!!!
Depends, like most countries
Depends, like most countries
If you go to the bad areas, there is always that chance, that is why most foreigners don't go there and they are fine.
Like most civilized and law-abiding nations, don't put yourself into a position to being thrown in Jail and you will be fine.
If that were true, why would people seek our help and try to come to our country, particularly illegally? Because of the healthcare?
Blacklabel
not only do they want to come, they usually don’t want to leave.
u_s__reamer
Ever since his "dictator for a day" shtick has seemingly stuck in a time-loop, never a day has gone by without some "American carnage" in one form or another. "Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad" is one ancient saying that Trump, "The Scourge of God", is on track to confirm anew for our day.
Desert Tortoise
Don't pretend you don't know the US Air Force under orders from then President Nixon bombed the daylights out of Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The Laotians cut old American drop tanks in half and use them as boats.
Desert Tortoise
It has to do with data sharing on the people applying for visas to travel to the US and border security. The US probably wants to know if someone applying for a visa has any kind of criminal history or is on a security watch list with their national police, things like that.
bass4funk
I know, but I meant, what the relevance in being off topic. I was confused
Nibek32
Tourists to America has plummeted in the last 2 months. I wonder why…