The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is now considering a major expansion of its travel restrictions.

According to an internal cable from the U.S. State Department obtained by Reuters, the U.S. may soon ban citizens from 36 additional countries from entering the country.

This move would mark a significant extension of Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown.

Earlier this month, President Trump—who began his second term this year—signed a new order that barred travelers from 12 countries.

He justified the decision by saying it was necessary to protect the United States from “foreign terrorists” and threats to national security.

The travel ban is just one part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies.

As part of this broader effort, hundreds of Venezuelans accused of gang activity have already been deported to El Salvador.

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Students included

In addition, the administration has taken steps to block some international students from enrolling in American universities, while attempting to deport others who are already studying in the U.S.

Now, based on a diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the government is warning that more countries could face similar travel restrictions.

The internal document lists 36 countries of concern and gives them 60 days to correct a series of issues or face full or partial bans.

According to the cable, the U.S. government is worried about several things. Some countries do not issue reliable or secure identity documents.

Others have passports that raise security concerns. In addition, the cable says some countries refuse to cooperate when the U.S. tries to deport their nationals who have been ordered to leave.

There are also concerns about visa overstays, terrorism links, and anti-American or anti-Semitic behavior by citizens of some of these nations.

The memo emphasizes that not all issues apply to every country on the list. Still, the message is clear: if these countries do not improve in key areas, their citizens may lose the ability to travel to the U.S.

A senior official from the State Department, while not confirming details from the cable, said the government regularly reviews visa policies to keep Americans safe and to make sure foreign visitors respect U.S. laws.

The list of 36 countries

The 36 countries now at risk of being added to the ban list include:
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This potential move would greatly expand the list of restricted countries. Just earlier this month, the Trump administration had banned travelers from:

Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

In addition, seven other countries—

Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—have already been placed under partial travel restrictions.

Not the last too

This is not the first time the Trump administration has issued broad travel bans. During his first term in office, Trump sparked controversy when he announced a ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Although the policy was challenged in court multiple times, it was ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.

As the administration moves forward, critics and international observers will be watching closely to see how the U.S. balances national security concerns with human rights and international cooperation.