Trump Administration Expands U.S. Travel Ban to Five New Countries

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it will extend its travel ban to five additional countries, adding new restrictions on others.

Expanded Ban

The list of newly banned nationals now includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. The administration also imposed a complete ban on individuals holding Palestinian‑Authority‑issued travel documents.

Partial Restrictions

In addition, 15 nations have been placed under partial restrictions: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Rationale

Officials say many of the countries facing new limits suffer from “widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents and criminal records” that make vetting difficult. They also cited high visa overstay rates, refusal to return citizens the U.S. seeks to deport, and a general lack of stability and government control.

The White House proclamation stated: “The restrictions and limitations imposed by the Proclamation are necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose, garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives,” it read.

Context

The move follows the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend. It also builds on a June announcement that barred citizens of 12 countries from visiting the U.S. and imposed partial bans on seven others.

The Afghan suspect has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges.

Key Takeaways

• Five new countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria—are now fully banned.
• 15 additional nations face partial restrictions, including Angola, Nigeria, and Zambia.
• The administration cites corruption, unreliable documents, and visa overstay issues as reasons for the expanded ban.

The expanded travel ban reflects the administration’s ongoing effort to tighten U.S. entry standards amid concerns over national security and immigration enforcement.