Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Gregory Adams
Topics: Immigration, Donald Trump, World News, Politics
William Morgan
Topics: Immigration, Donald Trump, World News, Politics
A tit-for-tat spat between a number of countries and the US State Department in the wake of President Trump's travel restrictions was ratcheted up a notch yesterday, with dozens of nations targeted by a new restriction.
The international fracas escalated in December 2025, when more countries were added to the now-expansive list of travel bans to the US, with travelers from 39 nations slapped with visa restrictions in just the first 12 months of Trump beginning his second term of presidency.
Mali and Burkina Faso hit back at their addition to the travel ban list at the end of 2025, imposing similar restrictions on any US citizen attempting to travel to their countries.
Leaders from both nations cited the 'principle of reciprocity' in implementing the ban.
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But the State Department stepped up its measures against immigration from certain parts of the world this week, requiring residents from dozens of largely African nations to post a hefty bond in order to be allowed into the US.
Nationalities from 38 countries will be required to post a bond of either $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, depending on their entry interview, in order to enter the US, the State Department explains.
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They must also enter through one of seven major US airports.
This large bond is forfeit if the traveler fails to leave the US by their visa departure date, or if they apply for asylum after entering under a travel visa. It is refunded once the traveler leaves within the rules of their visa.
The administration has implemented these restrictions with the stated aim of reducing illegal immigration from visa overstays, with the State Department claiming that each country is decided based on recorded violations of travel visas.
Of the 38 countries facing additional entry requirements, 24 are in Africa.
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Officials have said that these additional travel rules can be waived on a case-by-case basis for applications from people who 'serve US interests.' This includes international diplomats and athletes travelling for sporting events.
Residents from the following countries are subject to a full ban on immigrant and non-immigrant travel to the United States
Residents from the following countries are subject to partial visa restrictions on immigration to the United States.