U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a travel ban that could affect citizens from 43 countries, according to an internal memo and sources familiar with the discussions.
A report by Reuters on Saturday revealed that the proposed ban categorises the countries into three groups—red, orange, and yellow—based on the severity of restrictions.
While several African nations appear on the list, major economies like Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, and Egypt are not included.
Breakdown of the Proposed Travel Restrictions
The red group consists of 11 nations whose citizens would be completely barred from entering the U.S. This includes:
– Afghanistan
– Iran
– Sudan
– Syria
– Libya
– Cuba
– Bhutan
– Venezuela
– North Korea
– Yemen
– Somalia
Meanwhile, the orange group features 10 countries that would face stringent visa restrictions. These are:
– Russia
– Belarus
– Myanmar
– Sierra Leone
– South Sudan
– Pakistan
– Laos
– Turkmenistan
– Haiti
– Eritrea
The yellow group, which includes 22 nations, has been given a 60-day window to address concerns raised by U.S. authorities before any restrictions are implemented. Countries in this category include:
– 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 PrÃncipe
– Vanuatu
– Zimbabwe
The New York Times initially reported details of the proposed visa ban, though a U.S. official informed Reuters that the list remains subject to revisions and has yet to receive final approval from the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This travel policy is part of the broader immigration enforcement measures Trump has pursued since beginning his second term in January.
Island Nations Selling Citizenship Under Scrutiny
Among the countries listed in the yellow category are three island nations—Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia—known for offering citizenship through investment programs.
In 2023, the European Union (EU) raised alarms over the risks associated with ‘golden passports,’ after discovering that Caribbean states had sold citizenship to approximately 88,000 individuals from countries such as Iran, Nigeria, Russia, and China.
Concerns over these schemes have prompted the EU to reconsider its visa policies for nations that operate investor citizenship programs, particularly those with high corruption indices or human rights concerns.
Reports indicate that Dominica, an island with a population of just over 70,000, had issued 34,500 passports as of 2023. Similarly, St. Kitts and Nevis, with a population of 48,000, had granted 36,700 passports.
The proposed restrictions signal a tightening of U.S. immigration policies, though final decisions on the travel ban remain pending.
