posted 15th March 2025
Trump Administration Considers New Travel Ban Affecting 43 Countries
15 March 2025
The administration of United States President Donald Trump is contemplating a sweeping new travel ban that could impact citizens from 43 countries, according to a report by The New York Times. The proposal, detailed in a draft memo cited by anonymous US officials, divides the nations into three tiers of restrictions, ranging from full visa suspensions to conditional limitations.
The first group, comprising 10 countries—including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea—would face a complete suspension of visa issuance. A second tier of five nations, such as Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would encounter partial restrictions affecting tourist, student, and certain immigrant visas, though some exceptions would apply. The largest group, consisting of 26 countries like Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, would be subject to partial visa suspensions if their governments fail to address unspecified "deficiencies" within a 60-day deadline.
A US official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, cautioned that the list remains fluid and requires approval from senior figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before it can take effect. The proposal stems from an executive order Trump signed on 20 January, mandating enhanced security vetting for foreigners entering the US to identify potential national security risks. The order instructed cabinet members to compile a list of countries with inadequate vetting processes by 21 March, a deadline now looming.
This move marks a continuation of Trump’s hardline immigration stance, which he championed during his first term and reiterated in a speech in October 2023. At the time, he vowed to bar entry from regions like the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other areas he deemed threats to US security. The latest plan echoes his controversial 2017 travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority nations—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen—which sparked global protests and legal challenges. After Iraq and Sudan were removed and North Korea and Venezuela were added, the US Supreme Court upheld a revised version of that policy in 2018.
The current proposal, if enacted, would significantly expand the scope of restricted countries, reflecting Trump’s renewed focus on immigration control in his second term. Critics are likely to draw parallels with the earlier ban, which faced accusations of discrimination and overreach, while supporters may argue it aligns with his pledge to prioritise national security.
As the administration finalises its plans, the international community and domestic observers await further details—and potential backlash—on a policy that could reshape global travel to the US once again.
