Zimbabwe Among Countries Hit by Expanded US Travel Restrictions
The United States has expanded its travel restrictions, placing Zimbabwe on a list of countries facing partial entry limitations under a new proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The move forms part of a broader tightening of US immigration controls, with Washington citing national security concerns, weak vetting systems and high visa overstay rates in affected countries.
Also Read: Zimbabwe Among 36 Countries at Risk of New US Travel Ban
Full Bans Extended to Seven Countries
Under the updated proclamation, citizens of seven additional countries — including Syria — are now subject to a complete travel ban, barring them from entering the United States.
The full ban also applies to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Laos and Sierra Leone. Laos and Sierra Leone had previously faced only partial restrictions before being upgraded to a full prohibition.
The bans affect both immigrant and non-immigrant travellers, including tourists, students and business visitors.
Zimbabwe Placed Under Partial Restrictions
Zimbabwe is among 15 countries now facing partial travel restrictions. The limitations apply to Zimbabwean nationals seeking entry on B-1, B-2 and B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M and J visas, which cover students, exchange visitors and certain training programmes.
According to the White House, Zimbabwe was flagged due to high visa overstay rates recorded by US authorities.
A government overstay report cited in the proclamation showed Zimbabwe had a B-1/B-2 overstay rate of 7.89%, while F, M and J visa holders recorded a significantly higher overstay rate of 15.15%.
US Cites Security and Vetting Concerns
In explaining the decision, the White House said the expanded restrictions were necessary to address gaps in screening and information-sharing by certain countries.
US officials argued that widespread corruption, unreliable civil documentation, poor birth registration systems and limited access to criminal records in some nations make effective vetting difficult.
The administration also raised concerns over countries that fail to share passport data, cooperate with law enforcement, or promptly repatriate citizens ordered to leave the US.
Broader Immigration Crackdown Continues
The expansion follows an earlier proclamation issued in June, which banned travellers from 12 countries and imposed partial restrictions on seven others.
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major US cities and tightening border controls at the US–Mexico frontier.
The latest measures also come after the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, last month — an attack allegedly carried out by an Afghan national who entered the US through a resettlement programme in 2021.
Following the incident, Trump vowed to further restrict migration from what he described as poorly vetted regions, signalling continued hardline immigration policies.
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The post Zimbabweans Face New US Visa Limits as Donald Trump Expands Global Travel Bans appeared first on iHarare News.
