By Matik Kueth
The Trump administration is considering a major expansion of its travel restrictions, potentially banning citizens from 36 additional countries from entering the United States, according to the internal State Department on Monday.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation barring entry for citizens of 12 countries, citing the need to protect national security and guard against terrorism.
This move is part of a broader immigration crackdown during his second term, which has included deporting hundreds of suspected gang members and targeting foreign student visas.
The internal cable, reportedly signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines issues such as poor government cooperation, lack of reliable identity documents, passport security vulnerabilities, and some nations’ refusal to accept deported nationals. It also cites concerns about visa overstays, links to terrorism, and anti-American activity among some foreign nationals.
The 36 countries now at risk of a full or partial travel ban include South Sudan, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Syria, among others. The cable gives these countries 60 days to meet certain benchmarks or face restrictions.
A senior State Department official emphasized the U.S. commitment to protecting its citizens, while declining to discuss specific details of the internal deliberations.
This potential expansion comes on top of recent bans affecting 12 countries, including Iran, Somalia, and Sudan, and partial restrictions on seven others like Cuba, Venezuela, and Sierra Leone.
The Trump administration’s approach echoes its controversial 2017 travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority nations, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.