The Trump administration is evaluating a proposal to expand the U.S. travel ban to include 36 additional countries. A State Department memo outlining the potential expansion was first reported publicly on Sunday, June 15th. The proposal follows a prior ban implemented on June 4th that affected 12 countries, citing national security as the primary rationale behind the move. The additional restrictions could result in either full or partial suspension of entry for certain foreign nationals.
According to the memo, the targeted countries may face restrictions if they fail to meet identity verification benchmarks and cooperate with U.S. deportation protocols within 60 days. The memo stated that 36 countries of concern could face full or partial entry suspensions if they fail to meet key benchmarks within 60 days.
Officials cited several security risks prompting the expansion. These included the failure to issue reliable identity documents, limited cooperation in repatriating deportees, widespread corruption, and vulnerabilities in passports. Other concerns named in the memo included terrorism, antisemitism, and anti-American activity. One incident involving an Egyptian national in Colorado, accused of a terror attack in early June, reportedly intensified internal discussions about expanding the list. The Department emphasized the importance of secure documentation and compliance with U.S. visa issuance standards.
The 36 countries under review 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.
The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, clarifies that a nation does not need to meet all risk factors to be placed on the list. Instead, failure to address any one of several key issues may be sufficient for inclusion. The administration indicated that existing visa holders in the U.S. would not be removed under the expanded order.
The move marks a return to restrictive immigration measures that characterized Trump’s first term. In 2017, his executive order banned entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries. That policy, widely known as the “travel ban,” faced significant legal challenges before a revised version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The current expansion effort draws on that precedent but applies broader criteria.
For now, the administration maintains that such policies are necessary to safeguard American citizens and interests. A senior State Department official emphasized that the government is “constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans” while also ensuring that foreign nationals comply with U.S. laws. Final decisions regarding the 36 countries will be based on compliance evaluations over the upcoming 60 days.
