Trump Administration Considered Expanding Travel Restrictions to 36 More Countries

Trump Administration Considered Expanding Travel Restrictions to 36 More Countries

The Trump administration was considering a significant expansion of travel restrictions that could have barred citizens from 36 additional countries from entering the United States, according to a leaked internal State Department cable obtained by media outlets.

Earlier that month, the then-Republican president signed a proclamation banning citizens of 12 countries, claiming the move was necessary to protect the U.S. from “foreign terrorists” and other national security threats.

The directive came as part of an immigration crackdown initiated at the beginning of Trump's second presidential term, including the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan suspected gang members to El Salvador, and an attempt to deny some foreign students admission to U.S. universities and deport others.

In an internal diplomatic cable signed by then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department outlined twelve concerns regarding the countries in question and sought corrective measures.

“The Department of State has identified 36 cause-for-concern countries, and if these countries do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days, the Department may recommend the full or partial suspension of the entry of their nationals,” the cable, sent out over the weekend, stated.

The cable stated that the concerns raised by the State Department included: some countries' lack of capable or cooperative governments to provide reliable identification documents, and the “questionable security” of those countries’ passports.

The cable noted that some countries are uncooperative in assisting with the repatriation of their nationals who have been ordered deported, while citizens of other countries abuse U.S. visas and overstay their welcome.

Other reasons for concern included: the involvement of these countries’ citizens in terrorist acts in the U.S., or anti-Semitic and anti-American activities. The cable emphasized that not all concerns applied to every country listed.

“We are constantly re-evaluating policies to ensure the safety and security of Americans and that foreign nationals comply with our laws,” said a senior State Department official, declining to comment on specific internal deliberations and correspondence. “The Department of State is committed to maintaining the highest standards of national security and public safety through the visa process, protecting our nation and its citizens.”

Potential Countries Affected

The following is a list of the 36 countries that could have faced full or partial bans:

• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Benin
• Bhutan
• Burkina Faso
• Cabo Verde
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Ethiopia
• Egypt
• Gabon
• 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
• Zimbabwe

This would have been a significant expansion of the entry ban that went into effect earlier that month. The countries originally affected were: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Seven other countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela – face partial restrictions.

During his first term, Trump announced a ban on travelers from 7 Muslim-majority countries. The policy underwent several revisions and was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Understanding the Implications of Travel Restrictions

Travel restrictions, while often presented as necessary for national security, can have far-reaching consequences. They impact not only individuals seeking to travel for tourism, business, or family reunification but also the economies of both the restricted countries and the United States.

For instance, restricted access to the U.S. can hinder educational opportunities for students from affected nations, limit scientific collaborations, and negatively impact cultural exchange programs. These restrictions can also disrupt business travel, potentially affecting trade relationships and foreign investment.