Trump Considers Sweeping New Travel Ban: 36 Nations Under Review as Immigration Rules Tighten
In a bold and highly controversial move, former President Donald Trump is reportedly poised to expand his long-standing travel ban, potentially adding as many as 36 nations to the list.
The proposed action would mark a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, deepening Trump’s long-running campaign to impose tighter entry restrictions based on perceived security threats and deficiencies in vetting procedures.
According to insiders familiar with the proposal, the new approach would categorize targeted nations into three tiers, ranging from total entry bans to conditional reviews and temporary delays.
A New Framework for Travel Restrictions
Leaked documents, reportedly circulated within senior administration circles, outline a multi-layered approach:
Total Travel Ban:
A handful of nations could be barred from entry altogether, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The ban would apply to all travelers from these nations except those able to demonstrate special circumstances, such as credible claims of religious persecution.
Severe Visa Restrictions:
Several other countries would face sharply limited visa access. These nations — including Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan — would experience tighter scrutiny and stricter regulations for any visas issued.
60-Day Ultimatum for Compliance:
A longer list of nations — ranging from Angola and Benin to Nigeria, Senegal, and Zimbabwe — would be placed on notice. Under this category, nations have 60 days to address “national security deficiencies” identified by U.S. authorities, such as vetting lapses or data-sharing limitations. Countries failing to meet these requirements within the allotted period could be subject to partial or complete restrictions.
Trump Justifies the Measures
Sources close to the former president say the expansion aims to protect the United States from terrorist infiltration and other threats arising from “inadequate screening procedures” and “unreliable data” from certain countries.
Trump framed the proposed measures as a natural extension of the executive order he signed upon first taking office — an order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
That order required the State Department, Attorney General, Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence to assess how well other nations vet their travelers, and to report on how many visitors have entered the U.S.
from countries flagged as potential threats. The upcoming review, due within 60 days, will form the basis for which nations land in which category, reshaping the rules for countless international travelers.
Implication and Fallout
If implemented, this sweeping move could affect tens of thousands of travelers, straining relations between the United States and several long-standing international partners.
Critics of the proposal warn that it could deepen global tensions, disrupt vital commerce and tourism, and complicate humanitarian efforts — especially for those seeking refuge from war-torn or crisis-hit nations.
Supporters of the new restrictions, however, point to rising global instability and intensifying terrorist threats as justification for a tougher approach. According to proponents, a clear and strong vetting process is critical to safeguarding the U.S. homeland.
The Road Ahead
With the 60-day review now underway, nations on the proposed list must quickly assess their policies and work to meet U.S. standards or risk restrictions that could hamper commerce, education, and family connections. Meanwhile, civil liberties advocates, humanitarian groups, and international allies are calling for restraint and dialogue, urging the Trump administration to balance its security concerns with its long-standing role as a beacon for hopeful travelers and refugees.
As the deadline draws nearer, the world will be watching closely to see how these tensions evolve and what this shift means for the future of global mobility and international cooperation. Will this move redefine the global map of access to the United States? Only time — and the results of this 60-day review — will tell.