Baghdad, Iraq – The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a new travel ban that could affect citizens from multiple countries, according to recent reports. The proposed list includes 43 nations, divided into three categories with varying levels of travel restrictions.
Countries in the “red” category, which would face a complete ban on entry, include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The “orange” category, which would see tighter restrictions, includes 10 countries: Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan. Citizens from these nations would likely be denied entry for immigrant or tourist visas, though business travelers could still be allowed under certain conditions. Additionally, those applying for visas from these countries would be required to undergo in-person interviews.
Meanwhile, 22 countries are placed on the “yellow” list and given 60 days to address US concerns or risk being moved to a stricter category.
The list was reportedly developed by the State Department several weeks ago, though changes could still be made before it is finalized at the White House.
This potential new travel ban follows Trump’s early actions in office, which included freezing the US refugee program and halting most foreign aid. The Trump administration also aimed to identify countries whose citizens should face entry bans due to security concerns, similar to the so-called “Muslim ban” implemented during his first term.
That initial ban, issued in 2017, targeted citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, sparking international condemnation and leading to domestic court challenges. While Iraq and Sudan were eventually removed from the list, the US Supreme Court upheld a revised version of the ban in 2018, which included North Korea and Venezuela.
