A major expansion of U.S. entry restrictions is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, following a new proclamation signed by President Donald Trump. According to multiple reports, the updated order significantly widens the scope of America’s travel‑ban framework, adding new countries to the list of fully barred nations and tightening partial restrictions across several others.
Under the revised policy, full entry bans now apply to nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority documents. The proclamation also upgrades Laos and Sierra Leone from partial restrictions to full bans, joining the 12 countries already under complete suspension from earlier orders. With these additions, the number of fully restricted nations rises sharply, forming one of the most extensive travel‑control frameworks implemented in recent years.
In addition to full bans, the order extends partial entry limitations to a broader group of 19 countries, including Nigeria and Tanzania, based on assessments of visa overstay rates, unreliable identity documentation, terrorism‑related risks, and inadequate cooperation on deportations. Officials have stated that the expanded restrictions are driven by national‑security considerations and data‑based evaluations of each country’s vetting and information‑sharing capabilities.
The proclamation includes several exemptions. U.S. permanent residents, dual nationals traveling on passports from unrestricted countries, diplomats, and athletes participating in approved events are not subject to the new bans. These carve‑outs mirror exceptions found in earlier iterations of the travel‑ban policy implemented during Trump’s first term.
With the updated rules scheduled to take effect at the start of 2026, the United States is entering a new phase of tightened immigration controls. The expansion marks a continuation of the administration’s broader strategy to restrict entry from countries deemed high‑risk under federal security assessments.
