President Donald Trump has expanded a US travel ban, barring nationals of five additional countries and people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the US.

The White House stated that these new restrictions are aimed at protecting the security of the United States and will take effect on January 1.

Full-entry restrictions will be imposed on citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, in addition to holders of Palestinian Authority passports.

Furthermore, Laos and Sierra Leone, which previously faced partial restrictions, will now also face a full ban, while partial restrictions will be instituted for an additional 15 nations, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

According to Trump, this expanded travel ban is prompted by perceived failures in overseas screening and vetting systems. Specific concerns outlined included high rates of visa overstays, unreliable civil records, widespread corruption, and instances of terrorist activity.

This announcement follows the recent arrest of an Afghan individual accused of shooting two National Guard members over the Thanksgiving holiday, further emphasizing the administration’s stance on security.

This marks Trump's third implementation of a travel ban since his tenure began, following a similar measure introduced in 2017 that led to extensive protests and legal battles, ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court.

The White House confirmed that these restrictions will remain until affected countries demonstrate significant improvements in identity management and cooperation with US immigration authorities. Exceptions apply, which include lawful permanent residents and many current visa holders, along with waivers based on national interest criteria.

Countries with 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
  • Individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority issued or endorsed travel documents

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
  • Zimbabwe

Special case:

  • Turkmenistan (restrictions remain for immigrants but have been lifted for non-immigrant visas)