US Considers Expanding Travel Ban to Include 36 More Countries

An internal memo from the U.S. State Department reveals that the Trump administration is considering expanding its travel ban to include 36 additional countries, following the announcement of a previous ban on 12 nations earlier this month.

The memo, which was made public by Reuters, indicated that President Donald Trump’s administration is working to extend the restrictions on entry to the United States due to national security concerns. The President has previously stated that such measures are essential to protect the country from potential foreign terrorists and other security threats.

According to the internal diplomatic memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. Department of State has identified 36 countries that are considered to pose significant concerns regarding their citizens’ ability to meet U.S. security standards. The memo, which was issued earlier this week, states:

"The Department has identified 36 countries that are a source of concern and may recommend the imposition of a total or partial ban on their citizens’ entry if they do not meet established criteria within 60 days."

Among the countries under consideration for the expanded ban are Egypt, Syria, Djibouti, Mauritania, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, and Malawi.

The Expanding List of Restrictions

If the U.S. goes forward with this decision, it will represent a significant expansion of the travel ban, which already includes 12 countries under the current restrictions. The countries currently banned are:

Libya

Somalia

Sudan

Yemen

Eritrea

Iran

Afghanistan

Myanmar

Chad

Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Haiti

The Washington Post was the first to report on the internal memo outlining these plans.

Impact of the Expansion

The possible expansion of the travel ban has drawn criticism from various human rights organizations and global leaders who argue that these measures unfairly target specific regions and could harm diplomatic relations. However, the U.S. government insists that these steps are necessary to enhance the country’s security and protect American citizens.