Trump Weighs Adding 36 Nations, Including Egypt, to Travel Ban

According to reports from The Washington Post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed a memo addressed to U.S. diplomats, indicating that the U.S. government may impose travel restrictions on citizens from 36 countries if certain issues are not resolved within 60 days.

These looming restrictions result from concerns that the U.S. has raised with these nations, suggesting a potential full or partial travel ban could be enacted if the countries do not meet specific criteria in the given timeframe.

Potential Expansion of Travel Bans

As reported by Reuters, an internal diplomatic cable has outlined that "The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days."

The list of countries facing potential bans includes Egypt , Ghana, and Nigeria among others such as Angola , Antigua and Barbuda , Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo , Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria , Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The report from The Post notes that these governments were given 60 days to meet new benchmarks set by the State Department, with a deadline for submitting an initial action plan.

The memo specifies different deficiencies among the countries, including the lack of a central government authority to produce reliable identity documents, issues of governmental fraud, and a significant number of citizens who have overstayed their visas in the United States.

Although the White House has not commented on the report, a State Department spokesperson noted that while they could not comment on internal communications, they are committed to ensuring the security and safety of Americans while maintaining rigorous visa processes.

Recently, President Trump signed a presidential proclamation that restricted entry from twelve countries and imposed further measures on seven others, citing national security concerns related to the presence of foreign nationals.

In light of a recent terror attack in Boulder, Trump reiterated the risks posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals and emphasized the importance of following visa regulations.

Not all listed countries were identified as posing the same level of concern, as reflected in the diplomatic cable.