Saturday March 15, 2025
FILE - Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Stolyarova
Mogadishu (HOL) —The United States is preparing to enforce sweeping travel restrictions on citizens from 43 countries, including Somalia, as part of a revived Trump-era policy aimed at tightening immigration controls, The New York Times has reported.A draft of the policy, circulating among U.S. diplomatic and security officials, categorizes affected nations into three groups:
Total Travel Ban: Citizens from Yemen, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba will be completely barred from entering the United States.
Severe Travel Restrictions: Nationals from Russia, Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, Eritrea, and South Sudan will face heightened visa scrutiny, including mandatory in-person interviews.
Indefinite Entry Ban or Heavy Restrictions: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu, Gambia, the Dominican Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Liberia, Mauritania, Malawi, Mali, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Chad face bans or indefinite restrictions.
The draft proposal is undergoing review at the U.S. State Department, where officials are evaluating whether including certain countries—such as Somalia—could hinder diplomatic ties or counterterrorism cooperation. The proposal follows an executive order signed by President Trump in January, directing officials to identify nations with “deficient vetting and screening standards” for incoming travellers.
The new restrictions closely mirror Trump’s first-term travel ban, which included Somalia but was later revoked by the Biden administration in 2021. While the previous bans were challenged in court, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld a revised version. If finalized, the latest restrictions could reignite legal battles, particularly over whether green card holders and existing visa holders from Somalia and other affected nations would be exempted.
The U.S. government has not confirmed when the policy will take effect or whether modifications will be made before implementation. However, officials familiar with the matter indicate that any changes will be finalized within weeks.