U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a significant new proclamation tightening restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals into the United States, expanding what has now become one of the broadest U.S. travel and immigration limitation efforts in recent memory. The move, announced by the White House on Tuesday, adds several countries to the list of those whose citizens face either full or partial restrictions on travel to the U.S., citing national security concerns and deficiencies in screening and vetting processes as primary motivations.
According to official U.S. government documentation, the expanded proclamation is intended to protect the security of the United States by targeting nations with persistent and severe weaknesses in their identity-management systems, information sharing and immigration controls, which Washington argues could pose risks if their nationals are allowed unrestricted entry. The new measures build on previous proclamations earlier this year, which had already placed full restrictions on some nations and partial limitations on others.
Under the expanded list, seven additional countries have now been added to those facing full entry prohibitions. Among these are Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Laos and Sierra Leone. The administration’s decision to include Syria follows recent security incidents, including attacks attributed to extremist groups that resulted in the deaths of U.S. service members. Nationals of these countries will now be subject to full suspension of entry into the United States beginning January 1, 2026, under the terms of the proclamation.
In addition to country-specific bans, the proclamation also imposes a complete ban on individuals seeking entry on travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, reflecting U.S. concerns about effective vetting and security cooperation. Furthermore, the United States government has expanded partial restrictions to include nationals of 15 additional countries, primarily small nations in Africa and the Caribbean, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Nationals from these states will face more limited entry rights, particularly in certain visa categories.
The expanded actions mark a continuation of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, first established during his earlier presidency and reinstated after his return to the White House in 2025. Previous proclamations had already banned or limited entry for nationals from twelve core countries and placed partial restrictions on seven others. With the latest additions, the total number of affected nations now rises significantly, reflecting a sweeping approach to tightening U.S. border controls.
White House officials have defended the expanded measures as necessary steps to address perceived security vulnerabilities and to prevent individuals who may pose threats from entering the country. They point to problems such as inadequate recordkeeping, high visa overstay rates and unreliable screening systems in the affected countries as justification for the toughened stance. The proclamation also directs U.S. agencies to engage with the governments of these nations to improve their compliance with international security and vetting standards.
Critics of the travel restrictions argue that the expanded ban could strain diplomatic relationships, harm international cooperation and undermine the United States’ global reputation. Immigration advocates have also raised concerns that blanket restrictions based on nationality rather than individual assessments may be unfair and counterproductive. Nonetheless, the expanded travel ban is set to take full effect at the start of next year, reshaping U.S. immigration and border policy in the process.
