Trump expands travel ban, broadening scope to five more countries and Palestinian Authority

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday expanded its sweeping travel ban, widening the list of affected countries and tightening entry for Palestinians holding Palestinian Authority passports. The proclamation adds five countries to a full ban on entry and fully restricts PA passport holders, while imposing partial restrictions on 15 others. The action comes as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration enforcement and address security and visa-overstay concerns.

Under the proclamation, citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria are fully barred from entering the United States, and Palestinians with Palestinian Authority passports are denied entry altogether. The Palestinian Authority has issued passports since 1995, and the administration has cited the activity of terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza as part of the rationale for restricting PA travel. The targeted measures follow broader security considerations cited by the administration amid ongoing debates over immigration policy.

Fifteen additional countries face partial restrictions: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, the Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial restrictions to a full ban, while Turkmenistan saw a shift in status that allows nonimmigrant visas but maintains an immigrant entry suspension. These shifts reflect the administration’s assessment of persistent vetting deficiencies, including gaps in civil documentation, recordkeeping, and the ability to track deportations. Officials note that visa-overstay concerns and governments’ responsiveness to U.S. deportation requests underpin the policy choices.

In June, the administration reimposed a broader prohibition by banning entry for nationals from a core set of countries and imposing partial restrictions on several others. The current action keeps the policy dynamic and tightly scoped to the agencies’ assessment of risks and compliance histories across the globe. The list of affected countries continues to evolve as the administration reviews documentation, data-sharing practices, and bilateral cooperation on security and migration matters.

Existing visa holders, U.S. permanent residents, and applicants in certain visa categories — including diplomats and athletes — are exempt from the new restrictions. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would review the immigration statuses of lawful permanent residents and green-card holders already in the United States from the historically restricted group, and it indicated that exemptions and discretionary considerations would apply in some cases.

The administration framed the expansion as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls in the wake of security concerns and administrative reviews of visa processes. Critics, including advocacy groups, argued that blanket bans based on nationality do not enhance safety and instead risk undermining U.S. global talent pipelines and diplomatic standing. NAFSA: Association of International Educators said blanket travel bans undermine the country’s competitiveness and resilience by preventing trusted travelers and students from contributing to the U.S. economy and research ecosystem.

Beyond the travel ban, the administration has pursued additional immigration actions in recent months, such as reinterviewing refugees admitted under the Biden administration and proposing tighter eligibility rules for certain lawful immigrants seeking housing and other benefits. Officials have signaled a continued focus on enforcement, including expanding detention and deportation efforts, tightened screening of visitors and students, and new criteria for naturalization intended to root out what the administration describes as anti-American sentiment.

The policy arrives amid heightened political debate over immigration and national security, with critics cautioning that aggressive measures could curb the United States’ influence and its ability to attract global talent at a time when competitors such as China actively court migrants, students, and researchers. As of now, officials had not announced a precise effective date for the expanded restrictions, and the scope of implementation remains subject to administrative processing and potential legal challenges.

Background context cited by administration officials ties the expansion to security events and ongoing concerns about the reliability of travel documentation and the ability to repatriate noncitizens when necessary. The discussion also intersected with broader foreign policy dynamics in the Middle East and Africa, where U.S. partners and adversaries alike are watching how immigration policy informs diplomatic and economic engagement.

The public and industry groups will watch closely for any implementation updates, appeals processes, or exemptions that could affect students, researchers, medical travelers, and other visitors who are integral to campuses and workplaces across the United States.