The Trump administration is reportedly contemplating a major expansion of its controversial travel ban policy—this time targeting 36 additional countries, with Ghana among those under scrutiny.
According to a leaked State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post, the proposed expansion would impose new visa restrictions or bans, further tightening the United States’ immigration system.
The countries cited in the memo span Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific, but it’s the inclusion of long-time partners like Ghana, Egypt, and Djibouti that is raising alarm among foreign policy analysts. Ghana, known for its stable democracy and strong ties with the U.S., is a particularly surprising addition to the list.
The document highlights that the countries on the watchlist have been flagged for inadequate cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement or failure to meet information-sharing standards—such as biometric data, passport security, or reporting lost/stolen travel documents.
The 36 countries reportedly under consideration 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 proposal follows earlier executive actions by the Trump administration that have placed visa bans on 12 countries, many of them Muslim-majority nations, under the premise of protecting national security. If implemented, this would be one of the broadest visa bans in U.S. history.
While officials argue the move is necessary to ensure immigration system integrity and national safety, critics say it risks damaging diplomatic ties—especially with key African allies—and could disproportionately affect ordinary citizens with no ties to security threats.
Ghanaian officials have yet to publicly respond to the potential ban, but diplomatic experts suggest such a move could severely impact bilateral relations, including student exchanges, business travel, and consular cooperation.
The State Department and the White House have not officially commented on the leaked memo, but sources indicate internal deliberations are ongoing.
Should this expansion go into effect, it could bar millions of people from entering the United States, affecting families, professionals, and students. With Ghana’s growing tech and business communities often engaging with U.S.-based partners, the proposed restrictions may have widespread economic and personal implications.
The international community now watches closely as the Trump administration considers one of the largest expansions of immigration bans in recent history—placing Ghana and dozens of other nations under serious scrutiny.
