Trump Administration Considers Travel Restrictions for Multiple Nations, According to Internal Memo
According to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo obtained by Reuters, the Trump administration is contemplating extensive travel restrictions for citizens from various countries as part of a new ban.
The memo outlines a total of 41 countries, categorized into three distinct groups. The first group comprises 10 nations—including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea—where a complete visa suspension would be imposed.
The second group includes five countries: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan. These nations would face a partial visa suspension that affects tourist and student visas and certain immigrant visas, although some exceptions may apply.
Lastly, the third group includes 26 countries, such as Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. The memo indicates that these countries may also see a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance unless their governments take steps to rectify deficiencies within 60 days.
The New York Times first revealed the list of targeted countries, which echoes the controversial travel ban enacted during President Donald Trump’s initial term. This earlier policy affected travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations and underwent several revisions before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
On January 20, Mr. Trump issued an executive order mandating stricter security vetting for foreigners seeking entry to the U.S., aiming to identify potential national security threats. This directive instructed cabinet members to present a list by March 21 of countries from which travel should be suspended due to inadequate vetting and screening processes.
Notably, Mr. Trump’s recent actions align with a broader crackdown on immigration that he initiated at the start of his second term. In his October 2023 speech, he committed to restricting entry from regions deemed a threat to U.S. security, specifically mentioning the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other areas of concern.
The State Department has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment regarding these developments.
New Round of Layoffs on the Horizon
In parallel, the Trump administration has shown no indication of wavering in its plans for a second wave of significant layoffs and budget reductions across the U.S. government. This comes on the heels of two federal court decisions ordering the restoration of thousands of workers.
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged in a recent interview that, while rapid changes have been made since Mr. Trump’s inauguration in January, there have been mistakes in the downsizing process. “Elon himself has said that sometimes you do something, you make a mistake, and then you undo the mistake,” he remarked. “I think you have to quickly correct those mistakes… but I also recognize the valuable contributions of many dedicated public servants.”
Federal agencies faced a deadline on Thursday to outline comprehensive reorganization plans as part of Mr. Trump’s ambitious effort to revamp the federal bureaucracy—a task largely delegated to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
To date, proposals from DOGE have indicated potential job cuts exceeding 100,000 positions from the federal civilian workforce, alongside halted foreign aid and the cancellation of numerous programs and contracts. However, this approach has sometimes been disorganized, leading to the firing and subsequent reinstatement of critical personnel, including those overseeing the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
The economic implications of these government actions have not gone unnoticed, with the stock market experiencing significant declines related to Mr. Trump’s global trade policies—wiping out approximately $5 trillion in market value over the past two weeks, despite a brief recovery in Wall Street stocks yesterday.
Meanwhile, a recent memo from the Office of Personnel Management recommended “a significant reduction” in full-time staff across federal agencies, including the IRS, which is planning to cut between 20% and 25% of its workforce by May 15.
As the administration navigates these turbulent waters, federal court rulings continue to challenge its decisions. On Thursday, judges ruled in favor of reinstating thousands of probationary employees dismissed in recent weeks, highlighting that these actions may have violated federal employee regulations.
The White House has labeled these rulings as partisan overreaches, promising to contest them. “You cannot have a low-level district court judge filing an injunction to usurp the executive authority of the president of the United States,” stated White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
In a notable display of intent, on February 11, Mr. Trump signed an executive order directing all agencies to “promptly undertake preparations for large-scale reductions in force,” a clear signal of his administration’s direction moving forward.
As the situation evolves, the impacts of these policies will continue to unfold, and the complexities of both domestic and international reactions remain to be seen.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
