US President Donald Trump could sign a new executive order soon, expanding restrictions on travellers from several countries. The proposed order would build on Trump's 2017 travel ban, which barred entry for citizens from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen due to security concerns.
According to reports from Reuters and The New York Times, a draft of the order suggests that Afghanistan may be added to the banned list, though this is not yet confirmed. The new policy could also introduce three security categories for countries based on their immigration screening measures:
"Red" countries: Citizens would be barred from entry into the US
"Orange" countries: Travellers would face additional screening and limited visa options, such as restrictions on tourist or immigration visas.
"Yellow" countries: Governments would have 60 days to improve security measures or face stricter restrictions.
It remains unclear whether visas for individuals from affected countries who are already in the US will remain valid.
Trump had previously instructed US government agencies to assess which countries fail to meet security and vetting standards. The final list of affected nations is expected to be released soon.
Trump’s original travel ban, initially challenged in courts, was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. This precedent suggests the 2025 version could take effect without legal obstacles.