Anxiety as US Considers Slamming Travel Ban on Nigeria, 35 Others, Full List Emerges

• The Donald Trump administration is considering implementing travel restrictions to 36 more countries, including some major US partners such as Nigeria and Ghana
• The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sent to US diplomats on Saturday, June 14, disclosed that the governments of the listed nations have 60 days to meet new requirements established by the State Department
• This development comes as President Trump implements a wider anti-immigration agenda, including what he has called the “largest mass deportation operation” in American history

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering global affairs.

Washington, USA - The Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) is weighing a sweeping expansion of its travel ban.

Legit.ng understands that the ban could potentially restrict entry to citizens from 36 additional countries — including 25 in Africa.

US's likely travel ban on Nigeria

According to a State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post on Saturday, June 14, countries may avoid sanctions by accepting deportees from the US or entering “safe third country” agreements.

If enacted, the move would mark one of the most aggressive immigration crackdowns in Trump’s second term, drawing parallels to the original “Muslim ban” from his first term and triggering renewed backlash from critics who see it as discriminatory and xenophobic.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gives governments of the listed countries 60 days to comply with new U.S. screening and security benchmarks.

Legit.ng gathered that nations are expected to submit initial action plans by Wednesday, June 18, at 8 a.m. to avoid penalties.

The potential restrictions would affect key US partners like Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, and Djibouti, among others.

The update has particularly caused anxiety in Nigeria where many youths in the country prefer to migrate abroad.

The countries have been highlighted below:

1. Angola
2. Cameroon
3. Côte d’Ivoire
4. Democratic Republic of Congo
5. Benin Republic
6. Burkina Faso
7. Cape Verde
8. Djibouti
9. Egypt
10. Ethiopia
11. Gabon
12. Gambia
13. Ghana
14. Liberia
15. Malawi
16. Mauritania
17. Niger
18. Nigeria
19. Antigua and Barbuda
20. Bhutan
21. Cambodia
22. Dominica
23. Kyrgyzstan
24. Sao Tome and Principe
25. Senegal
26. South Sudan
27. Tanzania
28. Uganda
29. Zambia
30. Zimbabwe
31. Saint Kitts and Nevis
32. Saint Lucia
33. Syria
34. Tonga
35. Tuvalu
36. Vanuatu

Donald Trump's past travel ban

Trump’s initial 2017 travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries sparked global protests and legal battles before the Supreme Court upheld a revised version in 2018. President Biden rescinded the policy in 2021.

According to the US administration, the order aimed to keep America safe, but advocates alleged that the ban would keep families apart.

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Trump reacts to killing of US lawmaker

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a US lawmaker was shot dead in Minnesota.

The assailant killed Melissa Hortman and her husband.

The incident happened at a time of strong political division in the US when thousands were on the streets protesting against the policies of Republican President Donald Trump.

Source: Legit.ng