The Trump administration is reportedly moving to dramatically expand its controversial travel ban, with Nigeria and 35 other nations potentially facing full or partial entry restrictions into the United States. According to a confidential U.S. State Department cable, the planned policy shift could more than double the number of countries currently affected by entry bans and visa restrictions.

If enacted, this expansion threatens to disrupt education, business, family reunification, and international diplomacy, particularly for thousands of individuals from Africa and the Caribbean, who form the bulk of the countries under review.

Countries Face Deadline to Comply with New U.S. Security Demands

According to the classified memo, all 36 countries have been given until 8 a.m. on Wednesday to submit initial action plans detailing how they will meet the U.S. government’s enhanced identity verification and security protocols. They then have 60 days to fully implement these requirements.

Should they fail to comply, the countries may face full or partial travel bans, modeled after previous Trump-era executive orders, which restricted nationals from countries like Iran, Syria, and Somalia.

African Nations Dominate the Watchlist

Out of the 36 countries currently under scrutiny, 25 are African nations, according to the State Department’s confidential assessment. These include:

• West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, The Gambia

• Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe

• East Africa: Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan, Uganda

• North Africa: Egypt

• Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi

• Island nations: Cabo Verde, Mauritius

In addition to Africa, the memo identifies:

• Caribbean nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia

• Asian and Pacific countries: Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

This geographic spread has prompted accusations that the policy targets countries in the Global South, reinforcing criticisms of racial and ethnic bias in American immigration policy.

Why These Countries Are Being Targeted

The memo lays out a combination of security and compliance issues as reasons for the proposed bans. Key risk factors cited include:

• Weak governmental institutions that issue unverifiable or insecure identity documents

• High visa overstay rates, where visitors remain in the U.S. beyond their legal visa duration

• Non-cooperation in deportation cases, where governments refuse to accept their returned citizens

• Fraud concerns tied to controversial citizenship-by-investment schemes and poor record-keeping

• Behavioral red flags, including instances of anti-American or antisemitic conduct by some nationals residing in the U.S.

This expansion echoes Trump’s June 4 proclamation, which had imposed similar restrictions on 19 countries, including Afghanistan and Iran, as part of a broader push to tighten immigration laws and assert national security prerogatives.

Critics Decry Policy as Discriminatory

The proposed expansion has been met with swift backlash from civil rights organizations, immigration attorneys, and Democratic lawmakers, who have labeled the policy xenophobic and disproportionately punitive.

“Targeting mostly African and Caribbean countries with harsh entry restrictions sends a dangerous signal about the administration’s global priorities,” said one immigration analyst. “It’s a sweeping policy that punishes entire populations for bureaucratic inefficiencies.”

The travel ban expansion also risks legal challenges, particularly on grounds of discrimination and constitutional overreach, similar to lawsuits filed against earlier iterations of the travel ban in 2017 and 2018.

What Non-Compliance Could Mean

Countries that do not meet the new U.S. standards within the 60-day grace period face the following potential consequences:

• Full or partial entry bans for their citizens

• Suspensions of specific visa types, including student (F1), business (B1), tourist (B2), and work visas

• Tighter security screenings and extended background checks

• Longer visa processing times, effectively discouraging applications

• Strained diplomatic ties, which could affect trade and bilateral cooperation

These restrictions could severely impact students, entrepreneurs, and families with ties to the United States, and complicate intergovernmental negotiations in sectors like public health, security, and foreign aid.

Travel Bans Already in Place for 12 Nations

Separately, a June 9, 2025 travel ban has already been enforced against 12 countries, including:

• Africa and Middle East: Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen

• Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Burma (Myanmar)

• Caribbean: Haiti

• Central Africa: Republic of the Congo

Seven additional countries are under partial restrictions, involving visa suspensions and more rigorous vetting:

• Africa: Burundi, Sierra Leone, Togo

• Latin America and Caribbean: Cuba, Venezuela

• Asia: Laos, Turkmenistan

This suggests a growing global scope of U.S. travel control efforts under Trump’s immigration agenda.

Implications for Nigeria and Others

For countries like Nigeria, the implications of being placed on the travel ban list are profound. Nigeria, which has historically maintained deep cultural and economic ties with the U.S., could face diplomatic backlash, disruption to remittances, and the loss of educational and economic opportunities for thousands of its citizens.

Nigeria is currently the largest source of African immigrants to the U.S., and Nigerian students represent a significant population in American universities. A travel ban would directly impact cross-border business, foreign direct investment, and medical tourism as well.

While the Nigerian government has yet to release an official response, diplomatic observers believe backchannel talks may already be underway to avert inclusion in the expanded ban list.

What Comes Next

As the compliance deadline looms, governments under review will need to demonstrate tangible reforms in identity verification, deportation cooperation, and fraud mitigation. The 60-day window is likely to become a race against time for foreign ministries and embassies trying to preserve their nations’ standing with the U.S.

Meanwhile, immigration attorneys advise individuals from affected countries to:

• Monitor official updates from U.S. embassies and consulates

• Submit visa applications early, anticipating longer processing times

• Avoid overstays or visa violations, which could trigger broader restrictions

• Seek legal counsel before international travel or document renewal

As the Trump administration presses forward with its restrictive immigration agenda, the international community watches with growing concern over what this latest move means for the future of global mobility, inclusivity, and U.S. foreign relations.