The State Department website has published a map of the countries where Americans are urged to reconsider traveling to.
Newsweek has contacted the State Department via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S. has travel warnings for nations, but other countries also have travel warnings for the U.S. Germany issued a notice this month to transgender and non-binary Germans that they may face difficulties when travelling to the U.S.
President Donald Trump’s administration is considering reviving its travel ban, making it more difficult for people from other nations to visit the U.S.
What To Know
The U.S. government has a four-tiered system for countries when it comes to tourism. Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, Level 2: Exercise increased caution; Level 3: Reconsider travel; Level 4: Do not travel.
Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and Mexico, are marked as “other” as some regions in those countries and territories are considered safer to travel to than others.
Two countries have been reevaluated and placed back on the Level 3 “reconsider travel” list since Trump‘s second term began on January 20: Burundi and Pakistan. There are 23 countries in total where Americans are urged to reconsider their travel.
The countries listed as places for tourists to reconsider are labeled as dangerous for various reasons by the State Department. Most countries on the list have specific areas referenced by the State Department as being hot spots for violent crime and/or terror, and tourists are urged to avoid those areas.
Burundi had its Level 3 categorization updated on February 21 as family members of diplomats and non-emergency employees had to depart the country, which is deemed dangerous by the State Department because of “ongoing military conflict and tensions along the borders with DRC and Rwanda, political violence, crime, and health.”
Areas in Burundi singled out for their high risk of violence are “the former Central Market located on Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore in Bujumbura,” and “Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces and Kibira National Park.”
Per the State Department warning: “The possibility for political violence exists throughout Burundi. Police and military checkpoints are common and can limit movement. Police may search private homes for weapons. The borders may close without notice.”
Burundi borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, which currently has a Level 4 “do not travel” notice in place.
Pakistan was put back to Level 3 on March 7. It was categorized as a Level 3 prior to Trump’s second term, but its categorization was reissued after being reviewed and given minor edits.
Pakistan was given the rating because of “terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.”
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Americans should not travel to two provinces—Balochistan Province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province—as well as the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control because of terrorism, the potential for armed conflict, and the U.S. government’s limited ability to reach those places.
The State Department also warned Americans that “local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit. Being near a protest can draw scrutiny from Pakistani security forces. U.S. citizens have been detained for participating in protests and for posting content on social media perceived as critical of the Pakistani government, military, or officials. Internet and mobile phone service outages are common, especially during protests.”
Other countries listed as Level 3 countries also have hot spots for violence terror, and crime, and areas which are difficult to extricate America citizens from.
What Happens Next
Countries are reviewed by the State Department periodically. The levels are not travel bans but reflect how dangerous countries are in the eyes of the U.S. government and how easy or difficult it may be for an American to get help if they need it.
