On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation that significantly expands the list of countries subject to travel restrictions to the United States, increasing it from 19 to 39 nations with total or partial bans, the White House announced.
The decision marks a new tightening of Trump’s immigration policy, amid growing pressure over national security, border control, and mass deportations.
Seven new countries with a total travel ban to the U.S.
The proclamation adds seven countries to the total ban list, which means that their citizens are almost completely barred from entering U.S. territory:
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
It should be noted that Laos and Sierra Leone were already subject to partial restrictions, which are now being tightened with a total ban.
15 more countries with partial travel restrictions
In addition to the total bans, the Trump administration included 15 new countries with partial restrictions, affecting certain types of visas or travel categories:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Ivory Coast
- Dominica
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
These restrictions may include limitations on tourist, work, or student visas, depending on the case.
White House reasons: Security and verification failures
According to the White House, the countries included on the list have “serious deficiencies in the review, evaluation, and exchange of information,” which poses a risk to U.S. security.
Previously, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had recommended expanding the list to between 30 and 32 countries, but ultimately the proclamation exceeded that range.
Additional changes: Palestine and Turkmenistan
The proclamation also introduces other relevant adjustments:
- Travel restrictions are imposed on individuals with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
- The ban on nonimmigrant visas for citizens of Turkmenistan is lifted, although the suspension of entry for Turkmen nationals remains in place.
Read more: The United States declares the Gulf Clan an international terrorist organization
Who is exempt from the travel ban?
The measure includes specific exceptions, among them:
- Legal permanent residents (green card holders)
- Holders of valid visas
- Certain categories of special visas
- People whose entry is considered to be in the national interest of the U.S.
Immigration repression and the Washington shooting case
The expansion of the ban comes as Trump reinforces his hard-line immigration policy, citing the recent shooting in Washington in which a National Guard member was killed and another seriously wounded.
The alleged attacker, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan citizen who collaborated with the U.S. in Afghanistan, was resettled during the Biden administration, and subsequently granted asylum under the Trump administration.
Since then, the president has severely restricted the legal and illegal entry of foreigners, paused asylum decisions, and ordered reviews of immigration cases approved by the previous administration.
Complete list of the 39 countries with travel restrictions to the U.S.
With the proclamation signed this Tuesday, the countries subject to full or partial restrictions are:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Ivory Coast
- Dominica
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The expansion of the U.S. travel ban marks one of Donald Trump’s most forceful immigration moves in his new presidential term. The decision not only affects millions of people abroad, but also reignites the debate on security, immigration rights, and international policy.
