Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sources from Mehr News Agency: The Americans have requested, through intermediaries from various countries, the continuation of negotiations with Iran
Mehr News Agency, citing sources: The Iranian Foreign Ministry is considering a US request to continue negotiations after they failed to halt Iran's nuclear capabilities
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five martyrs and several wounded after the occupation targeted a group of civilians in Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City
Hamas: The comprehensive failure, military, political, and moral, exposes the falsehoods of the Zionist propaganda machine and reaffirms that our struggle is one of willpower and steadfastness
Hamas: Hamas: The slogans of "crushing defeat" and "total eradication" of the movement have collapsed in the face of explosive tunnels and the Resistance’s ambushes
Hamas: 640 days into the aggression, the occupation has utterly failed to break Gaza’s will or subdue its resistance
Iranian FM spokesperson denies Trump’s claims about Iran requesting a meeting with the US: We have made no such request to the American side
OHCHR: We have concerns that Nasser's arrest is part of efforts to eliminate legitimate forms of Palestinian expression
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Six killed or injured in Israeli drone strike on displaced persons’ tents in Sanabel camp, al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Several injuries reported as a result of the drone strike on the displaced persons' tent in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis

Trump admin may expand travel ban to 36 nations

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 15 Jun 2025 19:13
3 Min Read

A leaked cable reveals Trump’s plan to expand US travel bans, targeting 36 countries over identity and security concerns amid a broader immigration push.

Listen
  • x
  • President Donald Trump speaks at a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington (AP)
    US President Donald Trump speaks at a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring a substantial expansion of its travel restrictions, according to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters.

This directive was part of a broader immigration crackdown initiated by Trump at the beginning of his second term, which has involved deporting hundreds of Venezuelans accused of gang ties to El Salvador, along with measures to block certain foreign students from enrolling in US universities and to deport others.

In a confidential diplomatic cable signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department detailed numerous concerns regarding the countries under consideration while demanding corrective measures.

"The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days," the memo cited by Reuters stated.

The cable stated that among the State Department's concerns were some countries' inability or unwillingness to provide reliable identity documents due to ineffective or uncooperative governments, as well as issues regarding the security integrity of certain nations' passport systems.

Related News

Rubio says US sanctions on Russia may end dialogue prospects

US imposes sanctions on ICC judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant

The memo further highlighted concerns regarding nationals from specific countries allegedly involved in terrorist activities on US soil, as well as engagement in "antisemitic" and anti-American behavior, though the cable emphasized that these issues were not universally applicable across all nations being reviewed.

The countries that could face a partial or complete ban within the next 60 days are:  Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Earlier this month, the Republican president issued a proclamation barring citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, justifying the measure as necessary to safeguard against what he described as "foreign terrorists" and other potential threats to national security.

Trump's travel restriction on 12 countries goes into effect

The earlier travel restrictions implemented by Donald Trump took effect at midnight on June 9, imposing entry bans or limitations for nationals from Afghanistan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, while implementing partial travel limitations for nationals from seven other countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Legal analysts have observed that while Trump's original 2017 executive order faced widespread criticism as a "Muslim ban" and underwent court-ordered revisions, the current directive adopts a more expansive approach with carefully constructed wording designed to potentially withstand comparable legal challenges.

In a social media video posted Wednesday, Trump defended the ban as a national security measure, arguing that many of the affected countries have weak screening systems or refuse to repatriate citizens.

  • Marco Rubio
  • United States
  • Department of State
  • US travel bans
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' peace deal

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' normalization

  • MENA
  • 4 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • Today
Al-Qassam hits IOF groupings in Khan Younis; ‘tough incident’ reported

3 Israeli soldiers killed by Resistance gunfire in south, north Gaza

  • Palestine
  • 4 Jul 2025
Concrete and rubble fall from a heavily damaged building as Israeli soldiers search for survivors in a residential area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)

'Israel' concealed damage inflicted by Iran in war, report finds

  • Politics
  • 5 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Big beautiful bill's ugly reality for American healthcare
US & Canada

'Big beautiful bill's' ugly reality for American healthcare

Ukrainian Forces struggle to hold Eastern front lines: NYT
Europe

Ukrainian forces struggle to hold eastern frontlines: NYT

Plan proposes transit camps for Gazans ahead of possible relocation
US & Canada

GHF proposed 'transit areas' plan prior to Gaza residents 'relocation'

Lavrov: IAEA will be held accountable for pre-strike Iran assessments
Europe

IAEA to be held accountable for pre-strike Iran assessments: Lavrov

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS