In a move that has sent shockwaves across the diplomatic landscape, the Trump administration is weighing an expansive new travel ban that could block citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, and 34 other countries from entering the United States. The directive—outlined in a confidential memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio—is poised to reshape U.S. immigration policy and further strain relations with many African and developing nations.
The leaked memo, dated Saturday, was dispatched to U.S. diplomatic missions around the world, directing ambassadors and consuls to notify the affected nations of a strict 60-day deadline to meet new security benchmarks. According to The Washington Post, the internal guidance gives governments until 8 a.m. Wednesday to submit their initial compliance plans.
The criteria, as detailed in the memo, cite failures in national identity systems, rampant fraud in civil documentation, and in some cases, a complete lack of a functioning central government. “Some countries had no competent or cooperative authority to produce reliable identity documents,” it states. Others, it continues, suffer from “widespread government fraud.”
The looming restrictions are part of a broader executive order signed by former President Donald Trump earlier this month. Framed under the guise of national security, the order targets countries deemed high-risk for terrorism, visa overstays, and unreliable identity verification systems.
“We cannot allow open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those seeking to enter the United States,” Trump declared in a national address. “That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.”
The updated list expands the scope of scrutiny, with a staggering 25 African countries now facing potential sanctions. Countries named in the memo include:
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, 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.
U.S. officials also raised concerns over countries offering “citizenship by investment” without requiring residency, along with allegations of “anti-American” or “antisemitic” activity by nationals from certain nations.
The memo proposes that any of the listed countries could reduce or avoid restrictions by demonstrating compliance and cooperating with U.S. immigration enforcement. These conditions could include accepting deported third-country nationals or entering into “safe third country” agreements.
Though the specific timeline for enforcing the ban remains unspecified, State Department sources warn that failure to meet the set benchmarks could trigger immediate visa revocations or sweeping entry bans.
Critics argue the move echoes Trump’s controversial first-term “Muslim ban,” which was widely condemned for disproportionately targeting African and Muslim-majority nations. The current list under scrutiny includes countries such as Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran, and Haiti—raising fresh alarms about the administration’s approach to global migration.
In an emotional reaction, the African Union (AU) issued a strongly worded statement, condemning the potential ban and urging the U.S. to reconsider. While acknowledging America’s sovereign right to protect its borders, the AU emphasized the importance of fact-based policy and collaborative diplomacy.
“The Commission remains concerned about the potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations that have been carefully nurtured over decades,” the AU said.
The AU further called for constructive dialogue and mutual respect, noting, “Africa and the United States share mutual interests in promoting peace, prosperity, and global cooperation. The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the U.S. Administration to adopt a more consultative and balanced approach.”
Tensions intensified after Trump linked the renewed immigration restrictions to a recent violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where 12 people were injured during an attack at a rally in support of Israeli hostages. Though investigations are ongoing and no definitive link to foreign nationals has been established, Trump cited the event as evidence of lax immigration controls.
“In the 21st century, we’ve seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world,” Trump said. “We don’t want them here.”
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