the Trump administration announced a significant expansion of U.S. travel restrictions, adding 20 new countries and individuals using Palestinian Authority-issued documents to existing policies. This move doubles the scope of affected nations, bringing the total to 39 countries subject to either full travel bans or partial restrictions. The updated proclamation, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, aims to enhance national security by addressing deficiencies in vetting and information-sharing with certain foreign governments.
This expansion builds directly on a June 2025 proclamation that initially imposed full bans on 12 countries and partial restrictions on 7 others. The latest changes include upgrading restrictions for some nations, easing them for one, and introducing new limits primarily targeting countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere identified as posing elevated risks.
Expanded Restrictions
The new measures categorize countries into two main tiers:
Full Travel Bans
These prohibit most immigrant and non-immigrant entries (including tourist, business, and student visas) from the listed nations. The expansion adds the following to the full ban list:
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
Additionally, individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are now fully restricted.
The administration also upgraded Laos and Sierra Leone from partial restrictions to full bans.
The original 12 countries under full bans from June 2025 remain unaffected:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Partial Travel Restrictions
These impose heightened screening, limitations on specific visa categories (often targeting immigrant visas or certain non-immigrant types), and increased scrutiny to mitigate risks like visa overstays.
The 15 newly added countries under partial restrictions are:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Dominica
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Continuing partial restrictions from the June policy include Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela.
One positive adjustment: Restrictions on Turkmenistan were eased due to demonstrated improvements in cooperation and vetting processes, lifting the ban on non-immigrant visas while maintaining suspensions for immigrant entries.
Key Reasons Behind the Expansion
The White House proclamation emphasizes national security, public safety, immigration enforcement, and foreign policy objectives. Specific concerns cited include:
- Persistent deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing practices in the affected countries.
- Widespread corruption leading to unreliable or fraudulent civil documents, birth certificates, and criminal records, which hinder effective background checks.
- High rates of visa overstays by nationals from these countries.
- Refusal or inability of some governments to repatriate their citizens ordered deported from the U.S.
- General instability, lack of government control, or presence of terrorist groups that compromise vetting reliability.
The policy also notes risks associated with regions like the West Bank and Gaza, where ongoing conflicts and terrorist activities have degraded screening capabilities.
Notably, a previous exception for Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (for those who assisted U.S. forces) has been removed, raising concerns among advocates for Afghan allies.
Exemptions and Exceptions
The restrictions are not absolute. Key exemptions include:
- Individuals with valid visas issued before the effective date.
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) of the U.S.
- Certain visa categories, such as diplomats, international organization representatives, and athletes.
- Cases where entry is deemed to serve U.S. national interests, as determined on a case-by-case basis by the State Department or other officials.
- Dual nationals traveling on passports from non-restricted countries.
These carve-outs aim to minimize disruptions to ongoing diplomatic, athletic, or humanitarian activities.
International and Domestic Reactions
The announcement has elicited a range of responses:
- Affected Countries: Governments in the Caribbean, such as Dominica, have expressed urgency, stating they are treating the matter with “utmost seriousness” and engaging U.S. officials for clarification and potential resolutions. Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador described the development as “quite serious” and pledged to seek further details.
- Critics and Advocacy Groups: Organizations like the International Refugee Assistance Project condemned the expansion, with vice president Laurie Ball Cooper calling it “another shameful attempt to demonize people simply for where they are from,” arguing it exceeds genuine national security needs. Concerns were also raised about impacts on Afghan interpreters and allies previously eligible for special visas.
- Supporters: Administration officials and allies view the measures as essential for protecting Americans, particularly in light of recent security incidents, including a shooting involving an Afghan national.
Broader implications include potential challenges for international events, such as fans from restricted African nations attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., though exemptions exist for athletes and support staff.
Historical Context
This is not the first iteration of such restrictions under President Trump. During his first term (2017-2021), similar travel bans targeting primarily Muslim-majority countries faced legal challenges but were ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Those were revoked by President Biden in 2021.
The 2025 policies represent a reinstatement and broadening of that approach, adapted to current global risks. The June proclamation restored and updated first-term measures, while the December expansion reflects ongoing assessments and responses to evolving threats.
Travelers and immigrants from affected regions should monitor official U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security guidance closely as the January 1, 2026, effective date approaches. Waivers or adjustments may be available in individual cases, but the policy signals a continued prioritization of stringent vetting in U.S. immigration strategy.
