The United States is preparing one of the most sweeping expansions of its travel ban in modern history.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed in early December that the Trump administration plans to widen the list of restricted countries to more than 30, citing national-security concerns and unstable governments unable to cooperate with U.S. vetting processes.
“I won’t be specific on the number, but it’s over 30,” Noem said in a December interview on Fox News. “If they don’t have a stable government there … why should we allow people from that country to come here to the United States?”
The expanded ban will affect both immigrant and non-immigrant travelers—from tourists and business visitors to students and family visa applicants. Homeland Security officials have emphasized stricter vetting after a fatal November 2025 shooting in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghan national allowed entry under earlier resettlement policies.
Countries Under Review for Addition (Up to 36 Nations)
An internal State Department memo from June 2025 identified up to 36 “countries of concern” that might face full or partial bans if they fail to meet U.S. security benchmarks, including cooperation in identity verification and deportation assistance. While the new expansion has not disclosed the final additions, many of these nations are widely expected to become part of the updated ban. The potential list includes:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Côte 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
- Zimbabwe
Current “Fully Banned” Countries (12 Nations)
Citizens of these nations are fully barred from entering the U.S. under Presidential Proclamation 10949, signed June 4, 2025:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Partial Restrictions (7 Nations)
Travel to the U.S. is restricted for certain visa categories (tourist, student, business), although diplomats and dual-nationals may receive exemptions:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
What Travelers Should Know
- The initial 2025 travel restrictions targeted 19 countries, with 12 fully banned and 7 under partial restrictions.
- The expanded ban will cover over 30 countries, with the addition process still underway and final names expected soon.
- Those from nations under review face possible future visa denials, extended vetting delays, or full bans if governments don’t meet U.S. security criteria.
The expansion underscores a continued focus on national security following high-profile incidents and reflects the administration’s hardline approach to immigration. As the official list of newly banned nations is finalized, travelers, students, and businesses are advised to monitor announcements from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and their local embassies.
