Trump Expands US Travel Restrictions to 39 Countries Under New Proclamation
In a latest turn of events, US President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation significantly widening the scope of US travel restrictions, increasing the number of affected countries from 19 to 39, according to a statement released by the White House on Dec 16. The move marks one of the most sweeping expansions of travel limitations under Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
Seven Countries Added to Full Travel Ban List
Under the latest order, seven additional nations have been placed under a full ban on travel to the United States. These countries include Laos, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. Notably, Laos and Sierra Leone were previously subject to partial restrictions but have now been moved to the more stringent category.
The administration stated that these countries were added due to what it described as serious shortcomings in identity verification, security screening, and information-sharing practices, which it said pose potential risks to US national security.
Fifteen Nations Face Partial Travel Restrictions
In addition to the full bans, the proclamation introduces partial travel restrictions on 15 new countries. These include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Nationals from these countries may face limitations on specific visa categories, heightened scrutiny, or other entry barriers, depending on the type of travel and purpose of visit.
- The proclamation also applies travel limitations to individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, further broadening the scope of the restrictions beyond country-based bans.
- At the same time, the administration announced it was lifting a previous ban on nonimmigrant visas for citizens of Turkmenistan, though it clarified that general entry restrictions for Turkmen nationals would remain in place.
- Despite the expanded restrictions, the proclamation outlines several key exemptions. Lawful permanent residents of the United States -individuals who already hold valid visas, and travelers under specific visa categories—such as diplomats, athletes, and those whose entry is deemed to serve US national interests – will not be affected.
Policy Linked to Broader Immigration Crackdown
The expansion comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration policy. Trump has cited national security concerns following a recent shooting incident in Washington, DC, which left one National Guard member dead, and another critically injured. The administration has pointed to the arrest of an Afghan national suspect in connection with a separate attack over Thanksgiving weekend as further justification for strengthening entry controls.
Additional policy actions include a pause on asylum decisions, a review of cases approved under the Biden administration, and a reexamination of certain green card holders.
Historical Context and Legal Backing
During his first term, Trump implemented a controversial travel ban targeting several majority-Muslim countries. While the policy faced multiple legal challenges, the US Supreme Court ultimately upheld its third iteration in 2017, allowing restrictions on travelers from countries including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Venezuela.
Effective Date and Full List of Affected Countries
The new restrictions are set to take effect on January 1. With the latest additions, the countries now facing full or partial travel limits include Afghanistan, Burma, 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, along with 15 additional partially restricted nations.
With the world becoming increasingly less tolerant and volatile, the U.S. administration maintains the measures are necessary to protect US security.
Helene Elliott is the senior reporter for News Raise. She covers Science news. She also has a keen interest in photojournalism. Helene holds a nomination for the prestigious Red Smith Award. She is married to author Dennis D’Agostino, a former publicist with the New York Mets.
