Trump’s Sweeping Travel Ban 2.0: Full List of Countries Facing Restrictions

The Trump administration is reportedly considering new travel restrictions that could impact citizens from as many as 43 countries. A draft memo, categorized into three tiers—Red, Orange, and Yellow—has been drawn up by security officials, according to The New York Times.

While the proposal has not yet been approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio or President Trump, it marks a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to tighten U.S. borders.

Why It Matters

This potential travel crackdown follows an executive order issued by Trump on January 20, mandating intensified vetting of foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. The order also tasked cabinet officials with identifying countries with “deficient vetting and screening systems” by March 21, which could lead to full or partial travel bans.

The Red List: Total Entry Ban

The draft memo places 11 nations on the Red List, meaning their citizens would be completely banned from entering the U.S. These countries include:

• Afghanistan
• Bhutan
• Cuba
• Iran
• Libya
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Venezuela
• Yemen

The Orange List: Severe Restrictions

Citizens from these 10 countries would not face a full ban but would encounter major entry hurdles. Business travelers may be granted entry, but tourists and immigrants would face significant restrictions, including mandatory in-person interviews.

Countries on the Orange List:

• Belarus
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Laos
• Myanmar
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• Turkmenistan

The Yellow List: A Warning Shot

The Yellow List includes 22 countries given a 60-day window to improve their security protocols or risk harsher restrictions. Issues flagged include failure to share traveler data, weak passport security, and selling citizenship to nationals from banned countries.

Countries on the Yellow List:

• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Chad
• Republic of Congo
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Dominica
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gambia
• Liberia
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Vanuatu
• Zimbabwe

The Bigger Picture: Political Battle Over Immigration

Trump’s January executive order emphasized that reintroducing travel bans was necessary to prevent entry by individuals with potential links to terrorism, espionage, or extremist ideology.

The State Department echoed this stance, stating that national security and public safety remain top priorities.

However, critics argue that these moves are reminiscent of Trump’s original travel ban, which President Joe Biden overturned in 2021, calling it a “stain on our national conscience.”

What’s Next?

The draft memo is currently under review by embassies, State Department bureaus, and national security experts. It remains unclear whether individuals from these countries who already hold valid visas would be exempt or if their visas would be revoked.

With amendments likely before final approval, the world is watching to see how far Trump’s administration will push this latest crackdown on immigration.