The Donald Trump administration is reportedly considering implementing a new travel ban that could target citizens from up to 43 countries, significantly expanding the restrictions imposed during Trump’s first term, according to officials familiar with the matter.
A draft list compiled by diplomatic and security officials includes a “red” list of 11 countries whose citizens would be completely barred from entering the United States. The countries on this list are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, according to sources.
Draft List of Proposed Travel Ban Countries
Officials who disclosed this information did so on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the internal deliberations. They emphasized that the list was initially developed by the State Department several weeks ago and is subject to potential modifications before reaching the White House.
Diplomatic personnel in U.S. embassies, regional bureaus at the State Department, and security experts from other agencies, including intelligence departments, are currently reviewing the draft. They are assessing whether the cited deficiencies in each country are accurate and whether strategic policy considerations—such as maintaining cooperation on other critical issues—warrant reconsideration of certain nations on the list.
The draft proposal also features an “orange” list of 10 countries where travel would be restricted rather than fully prohibited. Under this classification, wealthy business travelers might be permitted entry, but individuals seeking immigrant or tourist visas would face restrictions. Furthermore, citizens from these nations would be subjected to mandatory in-person interviews to obtain a visa. The countries included on the “orange” list are Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
Upon taking office on January 20, President Trump issued an executive order instructing the State Department to identify nations where vetting and screening procedures were deemed insufficient to ensure national security. The directive mandated the department to submit a report to the White House within 60 days, meaning the deadline for completion is approaching next week.
The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has taken the lead in compiling the list, with assistance from the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Spokespeople from multiple government agencies either declined to comment or did not respond to requests for statements. However, the State Department has previously affirmed its commitment to carrying out President Trump’s executive order.
