The Trump administration is contemplating a significant expansion of its immigration restrictions, potentially adding citizens from 36 more countries to its blacklist. This move could lead to a full or partial entry ban to the United States for those nations that do not meet the security standards set by the State Department. This development was disclosed by Reuters on Saturday, based on an internal memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The document highlights that U.S. authorities have identified 36 countries as potentially problematic due to issues related to migration cooperation, document security, or histories of terrorism and anti-American activities.
Reuters cites the memo stating, “The Department has pinpointed 36 nations of concern that could face a complete or partial entry suspension if they fail to comply with the established requirements within 60 days.” The criteria are not uniformly applied to each country; however, common issues include unreliable passport issuance, lack of cooperation in repatriating nationals with deportation orders, and documented cases of terrorism, antisemitism, or anti-American activities by citizens of these countries on U.S. soil.
Countries at risk of being banned if they do not address these issues within the next two months include: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, 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, and Zimbabwe.
This initiative is part of a new immigration crackdown spearheaded by President Donald Trump following the commencement of his second term last January. So far this year, the administration has already banned entry to citizens from 12 countries, including Iran, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, and has carried out mass deportations of Venezuelans accused of gang affiliations. Measures against foreign students have also been implemented, and visa conditions have been tightened.
Although Cuba is not included in this latest list of 36 countries, it has been under partial restrictions since June 4, when Trump signed an executive order limiting Cuban citizens' entry to the U.S. due to what was termed as "lack of cooperation" from the Havana government in repatriation matters. The official text states, "I have decided to restrict and partially limit the entry of nationals from the following seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These restrictions differentiate between immigrant and non-immigrant entry, yet apply to both."
In March, the Trump administration had indicated that it was considering entry restrictions for citizens from 43 countries, including Cuba, categorized into "red," "orange," and "yellow" zones. A report by The New York Times on Friday noted that the list is not yet final and could undergo changes before being approved by the White House. The ban would be encapsulated in an executive order signed by Trump on January 20, titled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists and Others," aimed at preventing "threats to national and public safety."
Understanding the Implications of Trump's Expanded Immigration Blacklist
What are the criteria for a country to be added to the U.S. blacklist?
Countries may be added to the U.S. blacklist based on their cooperation in migration, document security, or histories of terrorism and anti-American activities.
How many countries are currently facing U.S. entry bans?
As of the latest update, the Trump administration has already banned entry for citizens from 12 countries, with the possibility of adding 36 more to the list.
Is Cuba affected by the new list of countries?
Cuba is not on the new list of 36 countries but has been subject to partial restrictions since June 4, 2023.