The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a new travel ban that would impose varying levels of restrictions on citizens from 43 countries, according to a New York Times report published on Friday.
Citing anonymous officials, the report indicated that the draft list divides the affected countries into three categories of travel restrictions.
The “red” category, comprising nations whose citizens would be entirely barred from entering the US, includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
A second “orange” category lists 10 countries—Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan—whose citizens would face significantly restricted visa access.
Business travelers from these nations might still be eligible to enter, but tourist and immigrant visas would be severely limited. Additionally, applicants from these countries would be required to undergo in-person visa interviews.
A third “yellow” category includes 22 countries, whose governments would have 60 days to address US security concerns or risk being moved to one of the stricter categories.
According to The New York Times, the draft list was compiled by the State Department several weeks ago and remains subject to revisions before reaching the White House for approval.
Since taking office, Trump has implemented strict immigration policies, including freezing refugee admissions and foreign aid.
The new proposed ban follows a similar directive from his first term, often referred to as the “Muslim ban,” which initially restricted entry for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. That policy faced international backlash and legal challenges before the US Supreme Court upheld a revised version in 2018, which also included North Korea and Venezuela.
If enacted, the new travel restrictions could spark renewed controversy and diplomatic tensions, particularly with nations facing the strictest bans.
