Trump Administration Mulls Adding Ghana, 35 Other Nations to Expanded Travel Ban

The U.S. government is reportedly weighing the addition of 36 countries—including Ghana—to its travel ban list, signaling a major extension of the policy introduced earlier this month by the Trump administration, according to a memo from the State Department obtained by The Washington Post.

The potential new restrictions would affect 25 African countries—some of which are key U.S. allies like Egypt and Djibouti—as well as several Caribbean, Central Asian, and Pacific Island nations.

While a spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on internal matters, the White House has yet to issue a statement on the proposal.

This move would represent a further intensification of the Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and circulated to U.S. diplomats on Saturday, gave the governments of the listed countries 60 days to comply with updated criteria set by the State Department. These countries were asked to submit an initial plan of action by 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The administration cited multiple reasons for possible inclusion on the list, including the absence of effective government institutions capable of issuing trustworthy identity or civil documents, rampant official corruption, and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S.

Additional concerns included the practice of granting citizenship in exchange for financial investment without requiring residency, and allegations of antisemitic or anti-American activities committed in the U.S. by nationals of some of the countries.

However, nations that agree to accept deported third-country nationals or to sign “safe third country” agreements could potentially avoid harsher penalties.

It remains unclear when the proposed restrictions would take effect should the countries fail to meet the outlined requirements.

The countries mentioned in the memo include: 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, Liberia, 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.

This development builds upon the travel restrictions announced in a June 4 proclamation, which barred entry from countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The same order also imposed limited travel restrictions on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.