Trump weighs expanding travel ban to Pakistan, Myanmar: 41 countries on potential blacklist

The Trump administration is considering a sweeping expansion of travel restrictions, potentially impacting citizens from 41 countries, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. The proposed ban, still awaiting approval, would impose full or partial visa suspensions on affected nations.

The memo divides the countries into three categories. The first group, comprising 10 nations — including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea — could face a total suspension of US visa issuance.

A second group of five countries, including Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would see restrictions on tourist, student, and some immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.

The third and largest group, consisting of 26 nations such as Pakistan, Bhutan, and Myanmar, would be subject to visa restrictions unless their governments address security deficiencies within 60 days.

A US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the list remains subject to change and has not yet been finalized by key administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The potential ban echoes Trump’s controversial 2017 travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority nations, a policy that faced multiple legal challenges before being upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.

The latest move is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which he initiated at the start of his second term. An executive order signed on Jan 20 mandates stricter security screening of foreign nationals entering the US, tasking cabinet members with identifying high-risk countries by March 21.

During an October 2023 speech, Trump signaled his intent to tighten immigration controls, vowing to bar individuals from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other regions deemed security threats. The State Department has yet to issue a response regarding the potential travel restrictions.

As the administration moves forward with its immigration agenda, the fate of millions of potential travelers and immigrants hangs in the balance.