US President Donald John Trump
The Trump administration is reportedly considering new visa restrictions on citizens of 36 countries, including Ghana and 24 other African nations, as part of an expanded travel ban policy.
According to a report by The Washington Post, an internal State Department memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was circulated to U.S. diplomatic posts on Saturday, June 14, 2025, giving the listed countries 60 days to meet security and documentation standards or face entry restrictions.
The memo highlights concerns such as unreliable civil documents, lack of cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement, high visa overstay rates, and instances of citizenship granted through monetary investment without residency requirements.
It also mentions vague references to “antisemitic and anti-American activity” by individuals from some nations. Countries showing willingness to repatriate their nationals or agree to “safe third country” asylum deals may see restrictions waived.
The list 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, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, alongside nations from Central Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
This follows President Trump’s June 4 proclamation, which imposed a full ban on travellers from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Libya, and Iran, and partial restrictions on eight others.
The policy stems from an executive order signed on Inauguration Day, directing U.S. agencies to identify countries with inadequate vetting and screening processes.
The Biden administration had previously revoked similar bans in 2021, labelling them discriminatory, but Trump campaigned on expanding them. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment, citing internal deliberations, and the White House has not yet responded.
Affected governments are now expected to engage U.S. diplomats and submit compliance plans by 8 a.m. Wednesday, though no specific implementation date for restrictions has been set.
The Trump administration is considering restricting entry to citizens of an additional 36 countries, in what would be a significant expansion of the travel ban announced early this month, according to a State Department memo. https://t.co/P42ULxut01
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 14, 2025
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