U.S. Considers Expanding Travel Ban to 36 Countries, Including Iraq and Egypt

The United States is considering expanding the travel ban to include 36 countries, among them Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.

The United States is studying the imposition of new restrictions on the issuance of entry visas for citizens of an additional 36 countries, including several Arab and Islamic countries such as Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. This information is based on a leaked internal memo from the U.S. Department of State, although no official comments have been made by the State Department or the White House so far.

This move is part of the expanded ban policy recently implemented by the U.S. administration on several countries. Currently, the ban fully applies to 12 countries and partially to another 7, due to what the authorities describe as “security concerns, inadequacies in information exchange, or weaknesses in local immigration systems.”

The memo indicates that the upcoming expansion is likely to negatively impact visa applicants from the proposed countries, as the suggested measures include prohibiting the issuance of study, tourism, and work visas, alongside suspending the processing of certain immigration and family reunification requests. This could exacerbate the suffering of thousands of families and individuals, especially those from countries undergoing difficult economic or political conditions.

According to details, the new ban could prevent a wide range of individuals from traveling to the United States, including students, those seeking medical treatment, individuals eager to reunite with their families, and even winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery. It will also affect travelers for purposes of tourism, business, or attending cultural and religious conferences, with exceptions for some categories such as holders of diplomatic passports, special work permits, or official government invitations.

This policy has elicited mixed reactions, with some observers considering it an unjustified escalation that will strain relations with several countries and deepen the isolation of large groups within the affected communities. Others see it as Washington’s effort to recalibrate its immigration system in line with its security priorities, especially given the current global tensions.

If implemented, these measures would constitute one of the most extensive ban campaigns in recent decades of U.S. policy, and they are expected to face legal challenges and human rights critiques, particularly from civil society organizations concerned with immigration and human rights.