Trump admin weighs major expansion of travel ban to 36 more countries

This potential expansion follows Trump’s June 4 executive order, which fully banned entry from 12 countries

The Trump administration in the US is preparing to significantly widen its travel restrictions, potentially adding 36 countries to its existing travel ban list, according to a memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reviewed by The Washington Post. The draft policy, which would mark a sweeping expansion of President Donald Trump’s second-term immigration agenda, has already sparked criticism over its scope and targeting.

Africa and beyond: a broadening list of targeted nations

Of the 36 countries now under review, 25 are in Africa, including key US partners like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Other countries facing possible restrictions include several in the Caribbean, Central Asia, and Pacific Islands—among them Saint Lucia, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The draft memo outlines a 60-day deadline for these countries to meet new identity-verification and security-screening benchmarks or face visa bans or other entry limitations. An initial action plan is due by 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the directive, which was distributed to US diplomatic posts over the weekend.

Cited reasons: visa overstays, document fraud, and policy concerns

The administration cites several justifications for the expanded list. Among them are the inability of some countries to issue reliable identity documents, failure to cooperate on accepting deportees, and high levels of visa overstays. Other nations are flagged for allowing “citizenship by investment” schemes without residency requirements, which the Trump administration claims undermines security vetting.

One controversial element in the memo includes claims of “antisemitic and anti-American activity” by individuals from certain countries, though no specific examples were cited.

The administration also notes that countries open to signing “safe third country” agreements—or willing to accept migrants expelled from the US—may avoid full restrictions even if they fall short of other requirements.

Escalation of a hardline immigration agenda

This potential expansion follows Trump’s June 4 executive order, which fully banned entry from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia, and imposed partial restrictions on another seven. Now, if finalized, the new policy would double the number of affected nations and dramatically expand the administration’s authority to bar entry from entire populations.

Critics argue that the growing list reflects discriminatory patterns. “This administration continues to single out African and Caribbean countries in a way that is deeply troubling,” said a Democratic congressional aide. Civil rights advocates have drawn parallels to Trump’s original 2017 travel ban, which initially targeted several Muslim-majority nations and was later upheld by the Supreme Court in revised form.

Political and legal pushback likely

Trump’s effort to reinstate and expand the travel ban has already reignited partisan divisions in Congress. Democratic lawmakers and immigration groups are expected to challenge the policy in court if enacted. The administration, for its part, has framed the policy as a national security measure, asserting the right of the executive branch to control entry into the United States.

The White House has not publicly commented on the new list, but Trump repeatedly promised on the 2024 campaign trail to bring back the travel ban “bigger than before.”