A newly leaked internal document from the U.S. State Department reveals that the Trump administration is considering a major expansion of its travel ban policy, potentially targeting 36 additional countries. If fully enacted, nearly one in five people globally—about 18% of the world’s population—could live in nations affected by U.S. travel restrictions, either partial or total.
The document, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and first reported by The Washington Post, was confirmed as authentic by Agence France-Presse. It outlines a proposed policy shift that would give the majority of targeted countries—primarily located in Africa—a 60-day deadline to meet new U.S. government requirements or face visa bans.
Countries that stand out among the list include Egypt, Syria, and Cambodia, indicating the scope of the policy extends beyond just sub-Saharan Africa.
New Wave Builds on Recent Restrictions
Earlier this month, President Trump announced a new set of restrictions targeting 12 countries across Africa and the Middle East. These include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Citizens from these nations are now barred from entering U.S. territory under a sweeping executive order that took effect on June 9.
In addition to outright bans, citizens of seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—now face strict limitations on U.S. visa issuance. These countries are seen as falling short of U.S. standards on traveler vetting and security cooperation.
The Trump administration claims that these measures are necessary to protect national security and ‘to prevent foreign terrorists and other threats from entering the country’.
State Department Silent on Specifics
When asked about the leaked plans, a State Department spokesperson declined to comment on “internal communications” but stated that the U.S. regularly reviews its policies “to ensure the safety of Americans and compliance with U.S. law by foreign nationals.”
While exceptions will reportedly be made—for instance, for individuals holding specific visa types or in cases deemed to serve U.S. national interests—the overall thrust of the policy marks a sharp escalation in the administration’s already hardline stance on immigration and travel.
Continuity from First Term
This approach echoes the controversial 2017 executive order issued during Trump’s first term, which became known as the “Muslim Ban” for targeting primarily Muslim-majority countries. That earlier policy sparked legal challenges, mass protests, and a national debate over its implications for civil liberties and foreign policy.
A law enforcement officer looks on as protesters block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from entering a building housing an immigration court amid federal immigration sweeps in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
Now, as Trump seeks to consolidate control during his second term, his administration appears poised to broaden that vision significantly.
If the proposed expansion goes into effect, it would mark one of the most sweeping U.S. travel restriction policies in modern history, reshaping the movement of people across borders and redefining America’s relationship with dozens of nations worldwide.
