US travel will be banned for 41 countries, know which names Trump is considering?
#News Bureau March 16,2025
The Trump administration is once again planning to take controversial steps. According to sources, the Trump administration is considering imposing a travel ban on 41 countries, including countries like Bhutan and Pakistan. This step is being taken with the aim of tightening US security and immigration policies. This information has come to light according to sources and an internal memo seen by Reuters. According to reports, this proposed ban will target those countries whose citizens have security concerns about entering the US. The inclusion of a peace-loving country like Bhutan in this list is surprising to many, while Pakistan’s name has been a subject of controversy in US policies before.
The memo lists a total of 41 countries, divided into three different groups. The first group includes 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea, for which a complete visa suspension is proposed.
The second group includes five countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—for which a partial suspension will apply. The suspension will affect tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, although there will be some exceptions.
The third group includes a total of 26 countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan and Myanmar. A partial suspension of US visa issuance for these countries will be considered. However, the governments of these countries will also be given “an opportunity to rectify the deficiencies within 60 days.” This memo states.
A Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the move was being taken to “keep America safe”. However, extensive discussions and legal review are underway before the decision is announced. Experts say the ban could impact international relations, especially with countries that have been America’s allies.
A US official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that there could be changes in this list. The approval of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also not been taken for this list.
A travel ban was also implemented during the previous Trump tenure, which was known as the “Muslim Ban”. At that time Iran was prominent in it. Apart from this, there were 6 other countries as well.
At that time, citizens of many countries were banned from entering the US, against which there were massive protests. The ban imposed on travelers from seven Muslim countries during Trump’s previous tenure was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 after several amendments. The possibility of this proposal coming up this time has raised concerns among human rights organizations and immigrant communities.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 directing intensive security screening of any foreigner seeking entry to the US to detect national security threats. That order also directed several Cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should be partially or fully suspended by March 21 because their “screening and investigation information is too weak.” Trump’s directive is part of a crackdown on immigration launched at the start of his second term.
He laid out his plan in an October 2023 campaign speech, promising to ban people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “any other place that threatens American security.”
The US State Department has not yet made any official comment on this news. On the other hand, the response of the governments of Bhutan and Pakistan is also awaited on this matter. More clarity is expected on this issue in the coming days, as this move can bring a new turn in global politics.
