South Sudan is among the 36 countries on Trump’s timepiece travel ban.
The Trump administration is considering expanding U.S. travel restrictions, potentially barring citizens from these additional countries. This information was revealed in an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning entry for citizens of 12 nations, citing the need to protect the U.S. from “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.
This move is part of a broader immigration crackdown launched at the start of Trump’s second term, which has included deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador over suspected gang ties and restricting foreign student enrollments at U.S. universities.
In the cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the department outlined concerns about the countries and sought corrective action.
“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the weekend cable stated.
Among the concerns were inadequate government cooperation in producing reliable identity documents,
questionable passport security, uncooperativeness in repatriating citizens ordered removed from the U.S., and high visa overstay rates. Additionally, there were concerns about nationals linked to terrorism, antisemitism, or anti-American activity, although not all issues applied to every listed country.
“We are constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans and that foreign nationals follow our laws,” a senior State Department official said, declining to discuss internal deliberations.
“The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the official added.
Countries facing potential full or partial bans if concerns aren’t addressed within 60 days include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This expansion would build on this month’s ban affecting Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and eight others. Partial restrictions already apply to seven additional nations, including Cuba and Venezuela.
Trump first introduced a travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries in 2017. After multiple revisions, the Supreme Court upheld the policy in 2018.
