From Afghanistan, Iran to even Bhutan and Russia: Trump’s proposed new travel ban may hit up to 43 countries

The draft proposal divides the countries into three categories: a “red” list, whose citizens would be completely barred from entry; an “orange” list, which would impose selective restrictions, particularly on non-business travellers; and a “yellow” list of nations given a 60-day deadline to address security deficiencies or risk being placed on a more restrictive list.

A new ‘red’ list

At the core of the proposed plan is a “red” list of 11 countries whose citizens would be outright banned from entering the United States. According to officials, this list includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The list would be a stark extension of Trump’s earlier efforts to block entry from predominantly Muslim nations, as seen in the travel ban he imposed during his first term.

The final version of the list remains under discussion, as officials from the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and other intelligence agencies review the recommendations.

More targetted restrictions

In addition to the total bans, the proposal outlines an “orange” list of 10 countries for which travel would be restricted but not completely cut off. Citizens of these nations — Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan — would face stricter vetting procedures and mandatory in-person visa interviews.

Affluent business travellers from these nations might still be permitted to enter, but immigrant and tourist visa holders would be subject to stringent scrutiny.

Notably, the inclusion of Russia on the “orange” list raises questions about Trump’s broader foreign policy stance. Throughout his presidency, Trump sought to improve relations with Russia, often to the dismay of critics who pointed to Moscow’s human rights abuses and interference in US elections. The proposed restrictions could signal a shift or a new attempt to balance public opinion with security concerns.

A ‘yellow’ warning

The draft proposal also includes a “yellow” list of 22 countries given 60 days to address perceived security deficiencies in order to avoid restrictions. These countries — largely in Africa and the Caribbean — include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.

The Trump administration has cited concerns that these nations fail to adequately share information about travellers with the US or have lax security practices when issuing passports, which could allow individuals from banned countries to exploit loopholes. The yellow list offers these countries a narrow window to cooperate with US authorities or risk being placed on a more restrictive list.

Has this happened before?

The proposed travel ban marks a return to one of Trump’s signature policies. In his first term, Trump issued a travel ban that initially targeted seven predominantly Muslim nations. The ban sparked legal battles and protests across the US, and federal courts blocked its early versions. However, a revised version of the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, allowing the administration to restrict entry from eight nations, six of which were Muslim-majority.

Soon after taking office, President Joe Biden revoked the travel bans, describing them as discriminatory and inconsistent with American values. “They are a stain on our national conscience,” Biden had said at the time.

But with Trump back in the White House, a return to the travel ban is being framed as essential to protecting US citizens from security threats. In an executive order signed in January, Trump instructed the State Department to develop a list of countries whose “vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals.” The draft report is expected to reach the White House in the coming days.