Trump administration expands its travel ban to include 36 new countries (25 African countries including Ghana and Nigeria)

The Trump administration is poised to significantly expand its controversial travel restrictions, potentially barring citizens from 36 additional countries, including 25 African nations.

The governments of these countries must comply with stringent new security and immigration requirements within 60 days, according to an internal State Department memo.

The proposed list of African countries includes Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Other countries included in the expansion list are Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Maldives, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

These nations are flagged for issues such as weak passport security, high visa overstay rates, refusal to accept deported nationals, or, in some cases, terrorism concerns and perceived anti-American activity.

However, the memo notes that not all countries face identical issues, raising questions about the consistency of the criteria.

Signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown in his second term.

Earlier this month, a travel ban was implemented on June 9, 2025, targeting 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additional restrictions were also placed on nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The memo sets a 60-day deadline for the targeted nations to meet U.S. demands, or face full or partial entry bans, which could disrupt academic exchanges, business travel, and family reunifications.