The Trump administration officials are weighing a new travel ban that would drastically restrict Cuban nationals from entering the United States, potentially placing the island nation on a “red list” for total travel prohibition amid heightened security concerns.
Quick Takes
- The Trump administration is considering adding Cuba to a new travel ban alongside Haiti, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
- Cuba may face a “red list” designation resulting in total travel prohibition to the U.S.
- The ban stems from concerns about inadequate security and vetting procedures in these countries.
- Universities are warning individuals from potentially affected countries to return to the U.S. immediately.
- The U.S. Embassy in Havana has already limited non-immigrant visa issuance since 2017.
Expansion of Trump’s Travel Ban
The Trump administration is actively exploring the possibility of expanding its travel ban to include Cuba and Haiti, with Cuba potentially facing the strictest restrictions. According to government sources, the island nation could be designated for a “red list” status, resulting in a complete prohibition on travel to the United States. This initiative builds upon the administration’s earlier travel bans targeting primarily Muslim-majority countries, and follows a January 30 executive order instructing officials to identify countries with deficient screening and vetting processes.
The consideration for adding Cuba to the travel ban list represents another significant shift in U.S.-Cuba relations under the Trump presidency. The administration has already reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism and imposed sanctions targeting Cuban military companies. The potential travel ban would further distance U.S. policy from the Obama-era normalization efforts, creating additional barriers between the neighboring countries and impacting thousands of Cuban citizens who seek to visit family or conduct business in the United States.
President Trump has proposed a travel ban, similar to the one in his first term. The ban could block entry from a "red list" of countries, including:
🇸🇩 Sudan
🇻🇪 Venezuela
🇸🇴 Somalia
🇸🇾 Syria
🇾🇪 Yemen
🇮🇷 Iran
🇱🇾 Libya
🇨🇺 Cuba
🇰🇵 North Korea
🇵🇰 Pakistan (expected)
🇦🇫 Afghanistan…— InsideIsraelIntel (@inside_IL_intel) March 12, 2025
Security Concerns Drive Policy Decisions
Administration officials cite security concerns as the primary justification for the potential ban. Countries being considered reportedly lack robust systems for conducting thorough background checks on their citizens, creating what the administration views as potential security vulnerabilities. The State Department has confirmed it is conducting a comprehensive review of all visa programs in accordance with Executive Order 14161, which focuses on protecting the United States from potential foreign threats.
The State Department has emphasized its commitment to administration priorities through this review process. The situation has become urgent enough that academic institutions and organizations, including the American Association of University Professors, have issued advisories to members from potentially targeted countries to return to the United States as quickly as possible. This heightened concern indicates the administration may be moving swiftly toward implementing these new restrictions.
Current Status of Cuban Travel to the U.S.
Travel between Cuba and the United States is already heavily restricted. The U.S. Embassy in Havana has not issued non-immigrant visas since 2017, with limited exceptions for diplomatic or emergency purposes. Cuban nationals seeking visas must currently travel to third countries for processing, creating significant hardships and expenses. The Biden administration had begun reopening some pathways, including resuming a family reunification program for Cubans, but these modest steps toward normalization could be quickly reversed if the new travel ban takes effect.
The proposed travel ban would extend beyond the restrictions implemented during Trump’s first term, which targeted primarily Muslim-majority nations including Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea, and certain officials from Venezuela. The addition of Cuba would represent a significant geographic and political expansion of the policy. While the administration has not announced a timeline for implementing these changes, the urgent warnings from universities suggest officials may be moving toward a decision in the near future.
Sources:
Trump administration weighs barring Cubans, Haitians from U.S. as part of new travel ban
