The Trump administration is weighing a major expansion of its travel restrictions, according to a State Department memorandum seen by the Washington Post and referenced in a Reuters report. The document says the White House is considering barring citizens of 36 additional nations from entering the United States, a move that would follow the 12-country ban President Donald Trump imposed earlier this month. If adopted, the measure would more than triple the size of the current list, bringing the total to 48 countries. The memo gives the targeted governments 60 days to meet U.S. security benchmarks—such as reliable identity-verification systems and improved passport controls—or face full or partial suspension of visas. Most of the countries under review are in Africa, though the draft list also includes several U.S. partners and allies, among them Egypt, Kyrgyzstan and Vanuatu. Nations cited across multiple media outlets include Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Administration officials argue the expanded ban is necessary because the United States “doesn’t have enough confidence” in the affected governments’ ability to detect security threats. Civil-liberties groups, which have already challenged earlier restrictions, are likely to oppose any further expansion. The proposal remains under inter-agency review, and its scope could change before the president signs a final proclamation. The White House and State Department have declined to comment on the ongoing deliberations.
OptionProbability
90
79
78
77
75
69
65
64
59
51
51
50
50
50
45
44
43
41
38
37
36
36
35
33
33
31
29
29
28
26
23
23
22
20
20
20
20
20
20
15
15
13
10
10
10
10
8
8
8
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
OptionVotes
9916
2845
OptionProbability
12
12
11
10
8
6
5
5
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
OptionProbability
25
10
8
8
8
5
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
OptionProbability
73
53
50
50
50
50
50
50
48
45
45
35
35
27
21
9
OptionProbability
235
184
OptionProbability
46
9
9
8
6
6
4
4
4
1
1
1
1
1
OptionVotes
301
187
OptionProbability
34
10
10
9
8
8
7
5
3
1
1
1
1
1
OptionVotes
115
103
OptionProbability
17
17
17
17
17
13
OptionProbability
21
21
21
21
15