Trump expands travel ban to include five more countries and Palestinian Authority

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday expanded its travel ban, widening the list of countries whose nationals face entry restrictions to the United States.

Under the proclamation, citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria are now barred from entering the United States, and Palestinians with passports issued by the Palestinian Authority are fully restricted from entry. In addition, fifteen other countries face only partial restrictions: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, the Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Laos and Sierra Leone, which had partial restrictions in June, are now fully restricted. The restrictions apply to both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, meaning the rules affect people seeking to emigrate to the United States as well as those visiting.

Existing visa holders, U.S. permanent residents, and applicants in certain visa categories, including diplomats and athletes, remain exempt from the new restrictions. The administration said the countries were chosen for persistent, chronic vetting deficiencies, including poor civil documentation and recordkeeping, widespread corruption and fraud, unreliable or inaccessible criminal records, and unreliable government travel documents. It also cited high visa overstay rates and governments that have historically refused to take back citizens the United States sought to deport, though critics have questioned the reliability of overstays as a policy metric. NAFSA: Association of International Educators called blanket travel bans based on nationality ineffective and harmful to national interests.

The proclamation comes as part of a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policy. Officials point to it as a security measure in a year already marked by heightened scrutiny of refugees, students and temporary workers. In the days leading up to the national holiday, the administration announced a reexamination of refugees admitted under the Biden administration and signaled broader steps to restrict lawful immigration and access to some federal benefits for noncitizens, moves critics say will reduce the U.S. share of global talent and strain international ties. The move also follows a major spike in enforcement actions and a pledge to curb migration, reflecting a persistent focus on border security amid a volatile political environment.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would review the immigration statuses of lawful permanent residents and green-card holders who originated from the 19 countries that were restricted in June. The policy underscores a broader shift in the administration’s approach to immigration, from expanding security vetting to adjusting visa pathways for foreign nationals. Proponents contend the restrictions are necessary to safeguard national security, while opponents warn of economic and diplomatic costs, including potential reductions in global talent and international cooperation.

The Trump administration has framed the expansion as a targeted, data-driven effort to close gaps in screening and enforcement. Critics argue that the measures amount to a broad political tilt on immigration and could alienate allies and partners who rely on the United States as a destination for students, researchers and workers. The administration says it will continue to adjust the policy as issues of security and administration evolve, and it maintains that visa and travel policies will be calibrated to protect public safety while enabling legitimate travel and commerce. This comes as the United States faces ongoing debates over immigration policy, border security, and the balance between openness and protection, with well-known differences across political and regional lines shaping the policy discourse.