President Donald Trump has announced an expansion of the US travel restrictions, barring nationals from five additional countries and individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the United States.
The White House stated that the new measures, set to take effect on 1 January 2026, are designed to protect US national security.
Under the updated policy, full-entry bans will now apply to nationals of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, in addition to Palestinian Authority passport holders. Meanwhile, Laos and Sierra Leone, previously subject to partial restrictions, have been moved to the full ban list.
The administration also imposed partial restrictions on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has tightened immigration and travel controls, citing weaknesses in overseas screening and vetting systems. Officials highlighted issues such as high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil records, corruption, terrorist activity, and insufficient cooperation from foreign governments in accepting deported nationals.
The announcement comes in the wake of an incident over Thanksgiving weekend, when an Afghan national was arrested for allegedly shooting two National Guard troops—an event the White House cited to underscore ongoing security risks. Countries under partial restrictions:
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This marks the third iteration of Trump’s travel ban policies. His first order, issued in 2017, faced widespread protests and legal challenges but was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court.
The White House indicated that the restrictions will remain until affected countries demonstrate credible improvementsin identity verification, information sharing, and cooperation with US immigration authorities.
Several exceptions apply, including for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, and athletes attending major events. Case-by-case waivers will also be considered for travel deemed in the national interest.
Countries under full restrictions:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and travelers using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed documents.
