The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to impose sweeping travel restrictions on citizens from 43 countries, furthering the US President’s ongoing immigration crackdown, which began in January of his second term.
According to a report from The New York Times, an internal memo details how the proposed ban will categorize these countries into three groups, each with different levels of restriction.
The first group, the ‘red list,’ consists of 11 countries whose citizens would be completely barred from travelling to the United States.
This list includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Individuals from these nations would face a blanket ban on entry into the US, regardless of the purpose of their visit.
The second group, known as the ‘orange list,’ includes 10 countries where travel restrictions would apply, though not a full ban.
Citizens from these nations—Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan—could potentially be allowed to visit the US, but only under specific circumstances, such as for business purposes. Immigrant and tourist visa applications would likely be rejected for these countries.
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The third group, referred to as the ‘yellow list,’ is the largest of the three, comprising 22 nations. Countries in this category, including Angola, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and several others, would be given 60 days to address perceived deficiencies in their travel systems.
If they fail to make the necessary improvements, they could be moved to the red or orange lists, facing even stricter travel restrictions.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the list is still under consideration and may undergo changes before being finalized.
The Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has yet to officially approve the proposed plan.
This latest move marks another aggressive step in President Trump’s efforts to reshape US immigration policy, as the administration continues to prioritize security concerns over international travel.
