WASHINGTON... Former President Donald Trump is expected to introduce a new travel ban as early as Friday. The move could restrict or block entry into the United States for citizens of more than 40 countries, including Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea.
The updated policy follows an executive order signed on January 20, Trump’s first day back in office. It directs his administration to identify countries that fail to meet strict U.S. security standards for vetting travelers. Based on those findings, travel from certain nations may be fully or partially suspended.
Approach to National Security
Trump’s latest order revives a campaign promise he made years ago. He said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from foreign threats and prevent entry by individuals who could pose national security risks.
This time, his administration is building a more detailed system to justify restrictions. Instead of focusing only on Muslim-majority countries like the 2017 ban, the new plan evaluates all nations based on how much they cooperate with U.S. screening efforts.
Countries that don’t share enough traveler data, such as information on stolen passports or terrorist activity, could end up on a list that blocks or limits access to the U.S.
Three Tiers of Restrictions
According to draft documents and officials familiar with the matter, the countries under review are being sorted into three categories:
Red List: Full travel bans. Citizens from these nations will be completely barred from entering the U.S.
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Orange List: Partial restrictions. These countries may face tight limits on visa approvals.
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Watch List: These countries have 60 days to improve their cooperation or face future restrictions.
A draft list includes 11 nations that could be placed on the red list:
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Some of these, like Iran and Syria, were included in Trump’s original travel ban. Others, such as Bhutan and Cuba, were not. Cuba has been named by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror.
Ten additional countries, including Russia and Belarus, may face visa restrictions instead of outright bans. Around 22 others, mostly in Africa, could be given warnings and time to improve.
Not Just Muslim-Majority Nations
One of the biggest differences in this new plan is its broader scope. While the original 2017 ban mainly affected Muslim-majority countries, this version includes nations with a variety of political and religious backgrounds.
Countries like Bhutan (a Buddhist-majority country) and Cuba (a majority-Christian nation) are under review despite not fitting the previous pattern. The aim, Trump’s team says, is to base decisions on hard data and cooperation with U.S. security agencies... not religion or geography.
Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the new plan is based on how well countries help track threats. That includes how quickly they report stolen passports or potential links to terrorist groups.
A Lengthy Legal Process Could Follow
Legal experts say the new travel ban is likely to face challenges in court, just like Trump’s earlier version. Back in 2017, his initial executive order was blocked by multiple courts. After making changes, the third version of that policy was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.
In that decision, the court accepted the administration’s national security reasoning and pointed out a clear process had been followed. The current plan seems to follow a similar legal path, with detailed reports and data backing each action.
Even so, civil rights groups like the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) are preparing to review the new order closely. “Our team will be analyzing it as soon as it comes out,” said Stephanie Gee, IRAP’s senior legal director. She said they are looking into whether parts of the policy may violate the law.
New Guidelines Could Take Effect Quickly
Trump’s January 20 order gives the Secretary of Homeland Security authority to act immediately in some cases. That means certain foreign nationals may already be facing travel barriers... even before the full ban is officially announced.
For example, officials recently deported a foreign doctor who arrived on a flight to Boston. The Department of Homeland Security said she had photos and videos on her phone that showed support for a group the U.S. considers dangerous.
“Having a visa is a privilege, not a right,” said the department in a statement. It said individuals who glorify terrorism or express hostile views toward American values can be denied entry.
Another recent case involved Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University. He was arrested despite being in the country legally. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio later stated that visas and green cards of certain activists would be revoked.
Who's Behind the Policy?
Trump has assigned a group of four high-profile officials to lead the policy rollout: Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Pam Bondi, Attorney General Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
They are responsible for creating the final list of countries and advising on visa enforcement rules.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed a review is underway but said final recommendations had not yet been submitted. “There is a process to make America safer,” she said, stressing the focus is on visa standards and traveler vetting.
Final Decision May Take Time
Though the first draft of the report was expected by March 21, the White House has delayed the deadline slightly. Officials say that’s normal for a policy involving multiple agencies and international considerations.
Wolf, now working at a pro-Trump think tank, said the current list may not be final. “Some countries might be removed based on further review,” he noted. “There are a lot of geopolitical decisions at play.”
That’s one reason why the final decision will come from top-level officials, not just agency staff. Countries that take fast action to improve cooperation could avoid harsher restrictions.
What’s Next?
The final travel ban policy could be announced at any time. If it follows the 2017 model, it may include options for waivers and exceptions in some cases. But it’s clear Trump is aiming for tighter controls on who can enter the country.
The administration says its main goal is national security and protecting Americans. Critics argue that the approach is too harsh and could unfairly target certain groups or individuals.
With legal reviews and international reactions expected soon, the full impact of this travel policy may not be known for weeks. But one thing is certain... Trump’s second-term travel restrictions are shaping up to be broader and more complex than ever before.
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