The Trump administration is reportedly weighing new travel restrictions on 36 additional countries, expanding its immigration crackdown to include several African, Caribbean, and Asian

nations, according to an internal memo obtained by The Washington Post.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and distributed to U.S. diplomats, outlines that these countries have 60 days to comply with newly introduced State Department requirements. The document claims that several of the targeted nations either lack effective central government authority to issue credible identity documents or have a high number of nationals who overstay their U.S. visas.

Despite the tough stance, the memo notes a potential exception: countries willing to accept deportees from the U.S. — even if those individuals are not citizens — may be granted leniency on other requirements.

African Nations Make Up the Majority

Twenty-five African countries are named in the memo, including U.S. allies such as Egypt and Nigeria. The full list includes: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Caribbean, Asian, and Pacific Countries Also Affected

The memo also identifies several Caribbean nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. In Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, and Syria are included, as well as three Pacific island nations: Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Deadline for Compliance

These countries have been given until 8 a.m. Wednesday to submit initial plans to meet the new criteria. While the State Department declined to comment on the specifics of the deliberations, a spokesperson emphasized the department's ongoing commitment to safeguarding U.S. security and ensuring foreign nationals follow immigration laws.

Uncertainty Over Implementation

It remains unclear whether the proposed restrictions will be enforced after the deadline passes. The report comes just a week after Trump reinstated his controversial first-term travel ban and announced new entry restrictions affecting 19 countries.

In January, the former president signed an executive order directing the State Department to identify nations with insufficient vetting procedures, potentially paving the way for expanded bans or visa limitations.

This move is part of Trump’s broader anti-immigration platform, which includes what he has described as the “largest mass deportation operation” in U.S. history. His agenda also involves stripping humanitarian protections and visas from tens of thousands of immigrants.

The White House has not yet commented on the memo. Photo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Wikimedia commons.