Washington: President Donald Trump has expanded the United States travel ban, barring nationals from five additional countries and people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the country.
The White House stated that the move was aimed at protecting U.S. national security, with the new restrictions scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Under the expanded order, full entry bans will now apply to citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. Individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents are also subject to a complete suspension of entry. The decision follows a broader tightening of immigration controls since Mr Trump returned to the White House earlier this year.
According to the BBC, US officials said the expansion was based on concerns over inadequate screening and vetting systems in affected countries. The administration cited high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil documentation, corruption, terrorist activity and a lack of cooperation in accepting deported nationals as key reasons for the move.
The White House also pointed to the recent arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard troops over the Thanksgiving weekend, using the incident to underscore what it described as ongoing security risks linked to foreign nationals.
In addition to the five newly added countries, Laos and Sierra Leone have been moved from partial restrictions to the full ban list. Partial restrictions have also been imposed on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. In total, 39 countries are now affected, with 19 facing full entry bans and 20 subject to limited restrictions.
This marks the third time Mr Trump has imposed a travel ban. During his first term, a similar policy introduced in 2017 triggered widespread protests and legal challenges, before ultimately being upheld by the US Supreme Court. The White House said the current restrictions would remain in place until affected countries demonstrate credible improvements in identity management, information sharing and cooperation with US immigration authorities.
Officials stressed that several exemptions apply. The ban does not affect lawful permanent residents, many existing visa holders, diplomats or athletes travelling for major international sporting events. Case-by-case waivers may also be granted where travel is deemed to be in the national interest.
