The Trump administration has issued a deadline for 36 countries, predominantly in Africa, to enhance their traveler vetting processes by Wednesday or face the possibility of a travel ban preventing their citizens from visiting the United States. This decision has been communicated through a diplomatic cable from the State Department, which instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to assess the willingness of these countries to comply with the new requirements.
The cable, which has been referenced by various news outlets, highlights the administration's concerns about the inadequacy of travel documentation from these countries and the ongoing issue of their nationals residing illegally in the U.S. Countries have a 60-day window to respond with concrete actions addressing these concerns, or they risk being added to an existing travel ban that currently affects 12 nations. Of the 36 nations targeted, 25 are located in Africa.
This move marks another initiative by the Trump administration to crack down on visa overstays and ties the entry of individuals from specific countries to potential national security risks. President Trump has previously expressed that some nations have deficient screening processes or have been reluctant to accept their citizens back after deportation. A number of countries have condemned these travel restrictions and stated intentions to implement reciprocal measures, while various resettlement organizations argue that such a ban fosters division and distress.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has refrained from confirming specifics within the cable but noted that the U.S. aims to ensure that these nations bolster their vetting processes, agree to accept deported nationals, and take steps to mitigate potential threats to U.S. security. Bruce emphasized the need for countries to implement changes that would inspire trust in their vetting procedures, indicating a clear expectation for accountability and improvements.
It remains uncertain whether the proposed travel ban would be enforced against countries that show intent to improve their processes but fail to meet the established benchmarks within the specified 60 days. Among the 36 countries noted in the updated cable are several that have historically been allies of the U.S., including Egypt and Djibouti, both of which maintain military alliances with the U.S. Additionally, countries like Liberia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia have longstanding friendly relations with the United States. Notably, Syria and Congo have also been included on this new list.
South Sudan is already facing a separate travel ban from the U.S., leading to the revocation of visas for many South Sudanese individuals already in the country. This sweeping travel ban enacted earlier includes 12 countries, and additional restrictions have been placed on seven others, although these actions have not yet resulted in revoking existing visas. Instead, new visa applications from citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are now categorically rejected.
The comprehensive list of the 36 countries that have been singled out includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
