US Considers Travel Restrictions for 43 Countries

Saturday 15 March 2025 - 15:09

By: Zahouani Ilham

US Considers Travel Restrictions for 43 Countries

The United States is contemplating strict entry restrictions for travelers from 43 countries, according to a report by the New York Times on Friday.

The article, citing anonymous sources, explains that the countries would be classified into three categories.

The "red" category would include nations whose citizens would be entirely banned from entering the US, such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The "orange" category would consist of 10 countries—Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan—where visa access would be highly restricted. Business travelers from these countries could be allowed entry, but individuals with immigrant or tourist visas would not. Additionally, citizens from these nations would be required to undergo in-person interviews to obtain a visa.
The "yellow" category would include 22 countries, which would be given 60 days to respond to US inquiries or face stricter measures.

Sources mentioned that the list, created by the State Department weeks ago, might undergo changes before reaching the White House.

Upon taking office,Donald Trump froze the refugee admission program and most foreign aid. He also tasked his administration with identifying countries whose citizens should be banned from entry to the US for security reasons. During his first term, Trump signed an executive order in 2017 that banned citizens from several predominantly Muslim countries, including war-torn Syria.