President Donald Trump has significantly expanded the United States travel ban, adding five additional nations and all individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents to the restricted list.
The White House announced that these measures, which are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, are designed to bolster national security by addressing what the administration describes as inadequate vetting systems and security risks abroad.
The new order imposes full-entry suspensions on nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, alongside those using Palestinian Authority passports. Additionally, Laos and Sierra Leone have been moved from partial to full ban status.
The administration also introduced partial restrictions on 15 other nations, including major African economies like Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, often citing high visa overstay rates or a lack of cooperation in accepting deported nationals. The White House specifically pointed to a recent shooting of National Guard troops involving an Afghan national over the Thanksgiving weekend as a primary justification for these tightened controls.
While the ban is extensive, certain exceptions remain in place. The restrictions will not apply to lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), most current visa holders, diplomats, or athletes traveling for major international sporting events.
Furthermore, officials noted that case-by-case waivers may be granted if the travel is deemed to be in the U.S. national interest. This marks the third major iteration of the travel ban since Trump first introduced the policy in 2017, and the administration maintains that these sanctions will only be lifted once the affected countries show “credible improvements” in identity management and information sharing.
