- The US President plans to impose a travel ban on 43 countries as part of an immigration crackdown
- The list is divided into red (full ban), orange (strict visa restrictions), and yellow (60-day review period)
- However, the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has yet to approve the proposal
The United States President, Donald Trump, is considering a travel ban on 43 countries as part of his administration’s immigration crackdown.
According to a report from Reuters on Saturday, March 15, an internal memo and sources familiar with the matter confirmed the proposal.
The memo categorises the 43 countries into three groups, red, orange, and yellow, based on the severity of restrictions.
However, the list is yet to receive final approval from the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In the red group, 11 countries face a complete travel ban, preventing their nationals from entering the US.
These countries include Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Bhutan, Venezuela, North Korea, Yemen, and Somalia.
The orange group comprises 10 countries that will see strict visa restrictions.
These include Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Pakistan, Laos, Turkmenistan, Haiti, and Eritrea.
The yellow group, which consists of 22 nations, has been given a 60-day period to address security or immigration concerns before facing potential restrictions.
Countries on this list include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
Notably, major African economies such as Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, and Egypt are not on the list, suggesting the administration’s selection was based on specific criteria rather than broad regional restrictions.
The New York Times also reported on the proposed visa ban, highlighting its potential impact on global travel and diplomacy.
A US official told Reuters that while the list is not yet finalised, some adjustments may still be made before implementation.
This move is part of Trump's broader immigration policies, which have remained a key focus since his second term began in January.
If approved, the travel ban could significantly affect diplomatic relations and global mobility for millions of people across the affected nations.
Trump administration directs ICE to locate, deport unaccompanied migrant children
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Trump administration directed the internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up efforts to deport unaccompanied migrant children who entered the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian.
The initiative marked an expansion of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.