US considers adding 36 countries to travel ban, memo says

State Department memo reveals potential expansion targeting nations failing on security benchmarks and cooperation

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Earlier this month, Donald Trump signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 countries. Photo: TNS

Published: 12:31am, 16 Jun 2025Updated: 12:51pm, 16 Jun 2025

US President Donald Trump’s administration was considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions by potentially banning citizens of 36 additional countries from entering the United States, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.

Earlier this month, the Republican president signed a proclamation that banned the entry of citizens from 12 countries, saying the move was needed to protect the United States against “foreign terrorists” and other national security threats.

The directive was part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term, which has included the deportation to El Salvador of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members, as well as efforts to deny enrolments of some foreign students from US universities and deport others.

In an internal diplomatic cable signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department outlined a dozen concerns about the countries in question and sought corrective action.

“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the cable sent out over the weekend said.

The cable was first reported by The Washington Post newspaper.

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