June 16, 2025: A New Travel Ban is on the Horizon for Additional Countries

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“Such a move would represent another escalation of the Trump administration's aggressive stance on ‘BLACK’ immigration.”

“If only Black folks can get their act together!”

— Source: YAME Digital

A new travel ban is being proposed that could affect additional countries.

On June 16, the U.S. State Department, in an internal memo reviewed by The Washington Post, indicated that it is considering adding 36 more countries to a list that might face visa bans or other restrictions. This list includes 25 African nations, such as significant U.S. partners like Egypt and Djibouti, as well as Nigeria, along with countries in the Caribbean, Central Asia, and several Pacific Island nations.

The internal memo sets a 60-day deadline for these targeted nations to meet specific requirements; otherwise, they may face a full or partial entry ban. Such a move would represent another escalation of the Trump administration's aggressive stance on immigration.

The memo, which was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sent Saturday to U.S. diplomats who work with the countries, said the governments of listed nations were being given 60 days to meet new benchmarks and requirements established by the State Department. It set a deadline of 8 A.M. Wednesday for them to provide an initial action plan for meeting the requirements.

The cable was first reported by the Washington Post

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In accordance with the presidential proclamation, the U.S. Embassy has suspended issuance of tourist, business, student, and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas (categories B, F, M, and J) to nationals of Sierra Leone and can only issue immigrant visas for immediate family members of U.S. Citizens (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) or adoption (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4) to nationals of Sierra Leone.

Trump signs proclamation to ban travel from several countries

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REUTERS: Trump administration weighs adding 36 countries to travel ban, memo says

By Humeyra Pamuk | June 16, 2025 5:44 AM EDT

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions by potentially banning citizens of 36 additional countries from entering the United States, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.

Earlier this month, the Republican president signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 countries, saying the move was needed to protect the United States against "foreign terrorists" and other national security threats.

The directive was part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term, which has included the deportation to El Salvador of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members, as well as efforts to deny enrollment of some foreign students from U.S. universities and deport others.

In an internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department outlined a dozen concerns about the countries in question and sought corrective action.

"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 cable sent out over the weekend said.

The cable was first reported by the Washington Post.

Among the concerns the State Department raised was the lack of a competent or cooperative government by some of the countries mentioned to produce reliable identity documents, the cable said. Another was "questionable security" of that country's passport.

Some countries, the cable said, were not cooperative in facilitating the removal of their nationals from the United States who were ordered to be removed. Some countries were overstaying the U.S. visas that their citizens were being granted.

[1/2] U.S. President Donald Trump stands with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he prepares to depart for Hagerstown, Maryland, at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S., June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Other reasons for concern were that the nationals of the country were involved in acts of terrorism in the United States, or antisemitic and anti-American activity.

The cable noted that not all of these concerns pertained to every country listed.

"We are constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans and that foreign nationals follow our laws," a senior State Department official said, declining to comment on specific internal deliberations and communications.

"The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process," the official said.

The countries that could face a full or a partial ban if they do not address these concerns within the next 60 days are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The 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.

That would be a significant expansion of the ban that came into effect earlier this month. The countries affected were Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The entry of people from seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela - has also been partially restricted.

During his first term in office, Trump announced a ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk Editing by Bill Berkrot

Humeyra Pamuk is a senior foreign policy correspondent based in Washington, DC. She covers the U.S. State Department, regularly traveling with the U.S. Secretary of State. During her 20 years with Reuters, she has had postings in London, Dubai, Cairo, and Turkey, covering everything from the Arab Spring and Syria's civil war to numerous Turkish elections and the Kurdish insurgency in the southeast. In 2017, she won the Knight-Bagehot fellowship program at Columbia University’s School of Journalism. She holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in European Union studies.

Sierra Leone on TIER 2 Orange — Travel Visa Sharply Restricted Visa — Draft List

“LATEST UPDATE: June 9, 2025: Travel Ban in Effect.”

— Source: US Embassy, Freetown, Sierra Leone

US Embassy, Freetown

In accordance with the presidential proclamation, the U.S. Embassy has suspended issuance of tourist, business, student, and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas (categories B, F, M, and J) to nationals of Sierra Leone and can only issue immigrant visas for immediate family members of U.S. Citizens (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) or adoption (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4) to nationals of Sierra Leone.

This proclamation does not revoke existing visas. If you already have a valid visa and use it lawfully, you may still travel to the United States and apply for entry at immigration.

We strongly encourage all travelers to use their visa as intended and to avoid possible penalties and deportation for overstays.

In accordance with the presidential proclamation, the U.S. Embassy has suspended issuance of tourist, business, student, and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas (categories B, F, M, and J) to nationals of Sierra Leone and can only issue immigrant visas for immediate family…

— USEmbassyFreetown (@USEmbFreetown) June 9, 2025

END JUNE 9, 2025 UPDATE

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“Trump signed a ban on travel to the US by nationals from 12 countries.”

— Source: UPDATED: Wednesday, May 4, 2025 | 8:45 PM EDT: The president made the final call on signing this proclamation after the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, according to a White House official. He was considering it beforehand, but Sunday’s assault put it into motion faster.

“Trump signs ban on travel to the US from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen

There are an additional seven countries whose nationals face partial travel restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela

The White House says these "common sense restrictions" will "protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors."

The proclamation is the second time Trump has ordered a ban on travel from certain countries - he signed a similar order in 2017, during his first administration.

These common-sense restrictions are country-specific and include places that lack proper vetting, exhibit high visa overstay rates, or fail to share identity and threat information," the spokeswoman told the BBC's US partner CBS, ~ BBC News

Visa overstays are again presented as the key issue in the cases of Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan.

Also reported by media outlets in the US.

CNN Politics: Trump signs proclamation to ban travel from several countries

CNN — President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday evening to ban travel from several countries to the US, citing security risks.

The ban will fully restrict entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, also known as Burma; Chad; the Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen.

People from seven countries will have partial restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves US national interests.

The president made the final call on signing this proclamation after the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, according to a White House official. He was considering it beforehand, but Sunday’s assault put it into motion faster.

The White House is touting the new president’s travel ban as “fulfilling” a campaign promise to “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm.”

“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors who want to come to our country and cause us harm. These commonsense restrictions are country-specific and include places that lack proper vetting, exhibit high visa overstay rates, or fail to share identity and threat information,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson wrote on X.

Trump said in a video posted Wednesday that new countries could be added to the travel ban as “threats emerge around the world.”

“The list is subject to revision based on whether material improvements are made. And likewise, new countries can be added as threats emerge around the world, but we will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe,” the president said.

The proclamation takes effect at 12:01 AM on June 9, according to the White House.

Wednesday’s proclamation comes less than five months after the president was inaugurated into office for his second term. On his first day in office, he issued an executive order directing cabinet members, including the secretary of state, to compile a list of countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.”

In his first term, Trump barred travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations from coming to the US, a policy that saw court challenges before President Joe Biden repealed it when he took office in 2021.

The barring of nationals from Afghanistan could impact Afghans who worked alongside the US during its two decades of war there. Tens of thousands of Afghans have already been caught in limbo due to other Trump administration executive orders suspending the US refugee admissions program and the suspension of foreign aid funding for flights of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders.

This story and headline have been updated with additional information.

By Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, Kaitlan Collins and Samantha Waldenberg, CNN

“Date: 5 June 2025 | Press Release No:_ /2025 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Statement of the African Union Commission on US Travel ban.”

— Source: African Union (AU) INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE

END UPDATE

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‘Affluent business travelers could be permitted entry, but not individuals traveling on immigrant or tourist visas, according to The New York Times. Citizens from these countries would also be required to undergo mandatory in-person interviews’ ~New York Times.

The list is subject to change and requires approval from the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The draft visa ban reflects the executive order known as the Muslim ban issued during Trump's first term. This order restricted travel and refugee resettlement from several predominantly Muslim countries.

The draft list categorizes countries into three distinct groups, each with varying levels of restrictions:

• The first level, 'Red', faces a full visa ban affecting 11 countries.

• The second level, labeled 'Orange,' has strict visa restrictions, which affect tourists, students, and other visa categories.

• The third-level 'Yellow' countries have 60 days to address all concerns raised by the United States.

How did Sierra Leone end up in the orange category of restricted visas?

Reasons can be found in the US State Department 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Sierra Leone, and the current state of affairs.

READ US State Department 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sierra Leone

It provides a thorough analysis of human rights issues, including credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, and arbitrary arrests or detentions, among others.

The government took some steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, but impunity persisted.

WATCH: The analysis, the reasons for the ranking, and potential remedies for Sierra Leone!

“USA To Impose Travel Ban on Sierra Leone: Is Sierra Leone the Worst African Country?”

— Prof. Dr. Prince Hyce Bull

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

Download the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Sierra Leone from the US State Department HERE!