President Donald Trump has announced a significant expansion of the U.S. travel ban, adding five more nations to the list of countries facing full entry restrictions, plus a blanket ban on individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. The move, effective January 1, 2026, also imposes new or heightened restrictions on nearly two dozen other countries, doubling the number of jurisdictions affected by the administration's sweeping limits on travel and immigration.
Full Travel Ban: New Additions
The proclamation signed by President Trump on Tuesday cites persistent and severe deficiencies in security screening, vetting, and information-sharing as the basis for the expanded restrictions. The new full ban applies to citizens of the following countries, in addition to the original list established in June 2025:
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
The order also elevated two countries, Laos and Sierra Leone, from the previous partial restriction list to the full travel ban category.
Restriction on Palestinian Authority Travelers
In a notable addition, the ban now explicitly includes individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. The White House fact sheet cited national security concerns, including the presence of terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the weakness of the PA's control over documentation and vetting processes.
Partial Restrictions and Heightened Scrutiny
In addition to the full bans, the administration has imposed new partial restrictions—which typically suspend the issuance of immigrant visas and certain non-immigrant visas—on 15 more countries:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Dominica
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Four countries from the original June list—Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela—remain under partial restrictions. The administration noted that restrictions on Turkmenistan were eased due to demonstrated progress in information-sharing.
Administration's Rationale
The White House justified the expansion by stressing the need to protect national security and public safety against foreign nationals who pose a risk of terrorism or criminal exploitation of immigration laws. Reasons cited for the targeted countries include:
- Lack of reliable civil documents and criminal records.
- Widespread corruption and non-existent birth registration systems.
- Armed conflict and the active presence of U.S.-designated terrorist groups.
The full ban applies to both immigrants and non-immigrants, such as tourists and students, though exceptions are made for existing visa holders, lawful permanent residents, and certain categories like diplomats.
