KATHMANDU, March 15: The Trump administration is considering a new, expanded travel ban that could affect citizens from as many as 43 countries, The New York Times reported, citing officials familiar with the matter. If implemented, the new restrictions would go beyond those imposed during former President Donald Trump's first term.
According to The New York Times, a draft list compiled by diplomatic and security officials includes a “red” list of 11 countries whose citizens would face a complete entry ban. These countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The New York Times notes that the inclusion of Bhutan, a small Buddhist and Hindu nation between India and China, is particularly puzzling.
Additionally, an “orange” list of 10 countries is being considered, where travel would be restricted but not entirely banned. Citizens from these nations—Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan—could still enter the U.S. under specific conditions, such as business travelers being allowed while tourist and immigrant visas face tougher scrutiny.
The New York Times further reports that the Trump administration directed the State Department to identify countries with deficient vetting and screening processes, requiring the department to submit a final report to the White House within 60 days. Officials at the State Department and other agencies are reviewing the draft proposal, considering whether policy concerns—such as diplomatic relations—might justify changes to the list.
Some countries on the proposed red and orange lists had previously been subject to Trump’s first-term travel bans, but several new nations appear on the draft. Adding Russia to the ‘orange’ list raises questions given Trump’s efforts to improve U.S.-Russia relations.
The proposal also includes a “yellow” list of 22 countries that would be given 60 days to address security concerns or risk being placed under stricter travel restrictions. These 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.
It remains unclear whether individuals with existing visas or green cards would be exempt from the ban. The New York Times reports that the administration recently revoked the green card of a Syrian-born former Columbia University student, citing his involvement in protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
During his presidency, Joe Biden revoked Trump’s previous travel bans in 2021, calling them “a stain on our national conscience.” However, Trump’s latest executive order signals his intent to reinstate restrictions, arguing that they are necessary to protect national security.
The final list of banned or restricted countries is expected to evolve before the administration formally announces any new travel policy, according to The New York Times.