The United States is reportedly considering imposing travel restrictions on citizens of 36 additional countries, including Liberia, in what would mark a major expansion of President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban policy. This development was revealed in an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post.
According to the report, the proposed expansion could significantly widen the scope of the current travel ban, targeting countries across Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific. Liberia, alongside 24 other African nations, is named among those at risk of new visa bans or entry restrictions.
The full list includes: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The memo reportedly outlines internal discussions within the State Department about adding these nations due to issues related to information sharing, security cooperation, and compliance with U.S. immigration standards. It remains unclear how soon a decision might be made.
A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on the ongoing deliberations, stating that the agency does not discuss internal communications. The White House has not yet issued a formal response.
The potential inclusion of Liberia, a long-standing U.S. ally with deep historical ties to America, is already raising concerns among Liberians at home and abroad. Critics say such a move could negatively impact families, students, and professionals seeking to travel to the United States.
The Trump administration’s original travel ban, introduced in 2017, sparked global outrage and legal challenges for targeting predominantly Muslim-majority countries. Any new expansion is likely to ignite fresh debate over immigration policy and national security.
The Liberian government has not officially responded to the report, but officials are expected to seek clarification from U.S. authorities in the coming days.
As the situation develops, many Liberians are watching closely, hoping their country will not be placed on the final list of banned nations.
