The Trump administration is nearing the final stages of implementing an expanded travel ban targeting citizens from specific countries, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The new restrictions would be broader than those introduced during Trump’s first term, potentially affecting more individuals.
A draft proposal, circulating within the executive branch, suggests creating a “red” list of countries whose citizens could be banned from entering the U.S. This list would mainly include nations already restricted under Trump’s previous travel bans, including Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. One notable addition to this list could be Afghanistan, where citizens might face a full travel ban.
Shawn VanDiver, head of a nonprofit assisting Afghan refugees, confirmed that Afghan citizens would be impacted by the travel ban, prompting his organization to issue an urgent statement advising Afghan nationals with valid visas abroad to return to the U.S. immediately. The news was later corroborated by other officials, confirming Afghanistan’s inclusion on the proposed red list.
The plan also includes an “orange” category, which would impose more limited restrictions on countries. For example, only certain visa types may be issued, and applicants may be required to attend in-person interviews. Pakistan could fall under this category, though some sources suggest it might be placed in the stricter red category.
In addition, a “yellow” list would give countries 60 days to address identified security issues or face further restrictions. Concerns include inadequate vetting of travelers, insufficient passport security, or the practice of selling citizenship to nationals of banned countries as a workaround.
It remains unclear whether the new travel ban would affect those with existing visas or if their visas would be revoked. There is also uncertainty around the impact on green card holders, who are typically granted permanent residency in the U.S.
At present, approximately 200,000 Afghans are in the process of being resettled in the U.S., with about 51,000 currently outside Afghanistan, primarily in Pakistan. VanDiver, a veteran of the Afghanistan war, expressed frustration over the potential ban, emphasizing that the Afghan evacuees are among the most thoroughly vetted populations ever to come to the U.S.
This development continues the trend of Trump’s efforts to restrict immigration based on national security concerns, a stance that began during his 2016 campaign and resulted in several iterations of the travel ban following his inauguration in 2017. These early bans sparked chaos, protests, and legal challenges, although the Supreme Court eventually allowed a revised version to be implemented.
When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he reversed the travel bans, calling them “wrong” and harmful to U.S. national security. However, Trump’s executive order now sets the stage for renewed restrictions on travel to the U.S., with the stated goal of protecting American citizens from potential terrorist threats and national security risks.
