According to the Reuters news agency, in an internal telegram signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department outlined a dozen concerns about the countries in question and demanded remedial measures.

The State Department has identified 36 countries of concern, whose citizens may be partially or completely banned from entering the United States if they do not meet the established criteria and requirements within 60 days, the document says.

The countries that may face a total or partial ban are mainly located in Central and South America, as well as in Africa and Oceania. Among the Asian countries are Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Syria.

The telegram said that among the concerns expressed by the State Department was the lack of a competent government in some of the countries mentioned that could provide reliable identity information. Another reason was the "questionable security" of the passports of these countries.

It was also noted that some countries did not cooperate in facilitating the return of their citizens from the United States, who were ordered to be deported.

Other reasons for concern were the involvement of the country's citizens in terrorist acts or "anti-Semitic" and "anti-American" activities. The document emphasizes that not all of these concerns apply to each of the listed countries.

"We are constantly reviewing our policies aimed at ensuring the safety of Americans and the observance of our laws by foreign citizens," a senior department official told the agency. "The State Department is committed to protecting our country and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national and public safety."

According to the agency, this would be a significant extension of the ban announced earlier this month. The affected countries then included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The entry of citizens from seven other countries was also partially restricted.