WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is considering strict new travel restrictions for citizens of dozens of countries, according to sources and an internal memo seen by Reuters.

The memo lists 41 countries in three groups:

• Full Ban: All visas would be suspended in 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea.
• Partial Ban: Five countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—would face limits on tourist, student, and some immigrant visas.
• Conditional Ban: Twenty-six countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, could face restrictions if they don't improve their screening processes within 60 days.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said the list could change and has not yet been approved by the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The New York Times first reported on the list, which is similar to Trump's 2017 travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries. That policy was revised multiple times before the Supreme Court upheld it in 2018.

Trump signed an executive order on January 20 to tighten security checks for foreign travelers. He directed officials to submit a list by March 21 of countries with weak security screening that should face full or partial travel bans.

The plan is part of Trump's broader immigration crackdown in his second term.

He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and "anywhere else that threatens our security."

Citizens from the following 11 countries may face a complete suspension of U.S. visa issuance This is known as the "Red list":​

• Afghanistan​
• Bhutan​
• Cuba​
• Iran​
• Libya​
• North Korea​
• Somalia
• Sudan​
• Syria​
• Venezuela
• Yemen​

The following 10 countries might experience partial visa suspensions, affecting specific visa categories such as tourist, student, or certain work visas. This is known as the "Orange list":

• Eritrea​
• Haiti​
• Laos​
• Myanmar (Burma)​
• Nigeria​
• Pakistan​
• Tanzania​
• Uzbekistan​
• Zambia​
• Zimbabwe

An additional 22 countries have been advised to address specific security deficiencies within 60 days to avoid potential partial visa suspensions. While the complete list of these countries, known as the "Yellow list,"  has not been publicly disclosed, reports indicate that Russia and Belarus are among them. ​

It's important to note that this list is based on internal drafts and has not been finalized. The proposed measures are subject to change pending further review and approval by the administration.