Proposed U.S. Travel Restrictions Target 43 Countries

Trump signed an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient" within 60 days.

A draft proposal circulating within the U.S. government suggests expanding travel restrictions to include 43 countries, as part of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on January 20. The order directed cabinet members to compile a list of nations facing full or partial travel restrictions due to what the administration describes as "deficient vetting and screening information."

While no final decision has been made, the draft list, developed by the State Department, categorizes countries into three levels of restriction: red, orange, and yellow.

The "red" list, which includes 11 countries, would impose a complete travel ban on citizens from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The "orange" list consists of ten countries whose citizens would face stricter entry requirements, including in-person visa interviews. These countries are Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.

The "yellow" list, which includes 22 mostly African nations, grants these countries 60 days to address U.S. concerns over alleged security deficiencies. Failure to comply could result in their placement on the red or orange lists. Countries in this category include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.

Security specialists and embassy officials are currently reviewing the proposal, assessing the accuracy of the reported deficiencies, and considering potential policy implications before final recommendations are made.

The January 20 executive order states that the restrictions aim to "protect citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit immigration laws for malevolent purposes."

During his presidency, former President Joe Biden had revoked previous travel bans, calling them "a stain on our national conscience" and inconsistent with the country’s tradition of welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds.