Nigeria tops list of 35 countries president Trump hammers with fresh visa restrictions
The United States government under the watch of President Donald Trump is considering a significant expansion of its travel ban, potentially restricting entry to citizens from 36 additional countries, including 25 in Africa.
According to a report by the Washington Post, an internal memo signed by Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on Saturday outlines a proposal that could impose visa restrictions or entry bans on the 36 additional nations.
The State Department memo revealed the proposed restrictions would affect key US partners like Egypt, Ghana, Djibouti, and Nigeria.
These countries are expected to comply with newly established requirements from the US State Department within a 60-day timeframe or face potential travel restrictions.
The reasons for the proposed restrictions are; failure to produce reliable identity or civil documents; high visa overstay rates, government corruption and fraud; citizenship-by-investment schemes with minimal residency requirements and alleged “antisemitic and anti-American activity.
If enacted, the move would mark one of the most aggressive immigration crackdowns in Trump’s second term, drawing parallels to the original “Muslim ban” from his first term. Critics see it as discriminatory and xenophobic.
Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law at Cornell Law School, notes that “Even if this expansion is legal, it is not good policy. The travel ban affects not only foreigners but US citizens. Families will be separated because of this travel ban.”
The memo gives governments of the listed countries 60 days to comply with new US screening and security benchmarks.
Nations are expected to submit initial action plans by June 18 at 8am to avoid penalties.
Countries may avoid sanctions by accepting deportees from the US or entering “safe third country” agreements.
