As the world prepares for the annual diplomatic spectacle of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the Trump administration is considering an unprecedented tightening of visa and travel restrictions on several foreign delegations. According to an internal State Department memo reviewed by the Associated Press, the delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and—perhaps most surprisingly—Brazil, could soon face new curbs that would sharply limit their movements and privileges while in the United States.
This move comes on the heels of an already controversial decision: the Trump administration has denied visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his large delegation, preventing them from attending the high-level UN meeting set to begin on September 22, 2025. This marks a significant escalation in Washington’s broader crackdown on foreign officials, even those who already hold legal permission to enter the country.
The memo outlines a suite of possible restrictions, including tighter visa approvals for the targeted delegations and explicit limits on their ability to travel outside New York City during the UNGA. While such restrictions are not entirely new—diplomats from countries like Iran have long faced strict boundaries within New York—some of the proposals now under consideration go further than previous measures.
One particularly unusual proposal would bar Iranian diplomats from shopping at big-box, members-only wholesale retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club unless they receive express permission from the State Department. According to the Associated Press, these stores have historically been a favorite haunt for Iranian diplomats, who purchase large quantities of goods not available in economically isolated Iran. These goods, often bought at relatively low prices, are sent home to friends and family, or used to stock embassies and consulates.
The shopping ban is emblematic of the administration’s intent to exert granular control over even the most mundane aspects of foreign diplomats’ lives in the US. While it remains unclear if or when such a ban would take effect, the memo indicates that the State Department may also draft new rules to impose terms and conditions on wholesale club memberships for all foreign diplomats stationed in the United States.
For Brazil, the situation is particularly sensitive. Traditionally, Brazil’s president is the first world leader to address the General Assembly’s opening session—a diplomatic honor that has become a fixture of the annual gathering. This year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to deliver the opening remarks on September 22. However, the internal memo leaves it unclear whether Lula himself, or only lower-level members of Brazil’s delegation, would be subject to the potential restrictions.
President Trump has not hidden his displeasure with Lula’s government, especially over the prosecution of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, on allegations of leading an attempted coup. According to the Associated Press, Trump has publicly criticized Lula for what he sees as the political persecution of Bolsonaro, adding another layer of diplomatic tension to the already fraught relationship between the two countries.
Sudan and Zimbabwe are also named in the State Department memo as possible targets for new restrictions, though the document does not specify what those might entail. The lack of detail has left diplomats and observers guessing about the scope and intent of the proposed measures. The State Department has so far declined to comment on the memo or the administration’s deliberations, fueling speculation and concern among the affected countries.
Notably, the Trump administration appears to be making exceptions for some countries even as it tightens the screws on others. Syria, for instance, will reportedly see fewer restrictions this year. According to the Associated Press, the Syrian delegation has received a waiver for limitations that have been in place for more than a decade. This shift comes as the administration seeks to build ties with Syria following the ouster of President Bashar Assad last year and the country’s gradual reintegration into the Middle East diplomatic fold.
The broader context for these moves is a sweeping review of US visa policy under the Trump administration. Over the past several years, the administration has tightened entry rules for foreign officials, even those who have already been granted legal permission to visit the US. The aim, according to supporters, is to ensure that foreign diplomats do not abuse the privileges of their status or engage in activities deemed contrary to American interests.
Critics, however, argue that such restrictions undermine the spirit of the United Nations itself, which is meant to be a neutral forum for dialogue among nations—including those with whom the US has strained or adversarial relations. The denial of visas to Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, for example, has been condemned by Palestinian officials and some international observers as a violation of the UN’s founding principles.
For Iranian diplomats, the proposed restrictions are just the latest in a series of hurdles. Their movements in New York are already tightly controlled, with travel limited to a small radius around the UN headquarters. The prospect of being barred from shopping at stores like Costco and Sam’s Club may seem trivial, but it underscores the extent to which the US government is willing to go to exert leverage over foreign officials.
The memo also hints at the possibility of extending new restrictions to all foreign diplomats, not just those from the countries currently under scrutiny. By drafting rules to regulate wholesale club memberships and other aspects of diplomats’ daily lives, the administration could set a precedent that affects the entire diplomatic community in the US.
As for Brazil, the uncertainty over whether President Lula will face restrictions has cast a shadow over the upcoming General Assembly. With the world watching, any move to limit the participation of Brazil’s leader—who has long been the first to address the UNGA—would be seen as a significant break from tradition. It would also risk deepening tensions between Washington and Brasília at a time when both countries are navigating complex domestic and international challenges.
Meanwhile, the lack of clarity regarding Sudan and Zimbabwe leaves those delegations in a state of limbo. Without specific details, diplomats from both countries can only speculate about what the US has in store for them. The absence of comment from the State Department has done little to allay their concerns.
As the September 22 opening of the UN General Assembly draws near, the world’s attention will be fixed on New York—not just for the speeches and high-level meetings, but also for the diplomatic drama unfolding behind the scenes. The Trump administration’s evolving visa and travel policies are set to shape the tenor and substance of this year’s gathering in ways that could reverberate far beyond the UN’s iconic halls.
Whatever the final decisions, one thing is certain: the intersection of diplomacy, politics, and US immigration policy has rarely been more visible—or more contentious—than it is today.