Donald Trump
Trump expands US travel ban to five more countries, including Syria, Palestine
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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a new presidential proclamation broadening US entry restrictions, citing ongoing national security and public safety concerns linked to screening, vetting, and information-sharing gaps.
According to the proclamation, the administration is maintaining full entry restrictions on nationals from twelve countries previously designated as high risk. These are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
- Additional countries added to full restrictions -
The White House said five more countries are now subject to full entry bans following a recent security review. These are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
The proclamation also applies full entry restrictions to individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
In addition, Laos and Sierra Leone, which had previously faced partial limits, are now moved under full entry restrictions.
- Partial bans expanded, one country eased -
Partial restrictions remain in place for nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela. The proclamation further extends partial entry limitations to fifteen additional countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
At the same time, the administration announced a limited easing for Turkmenistan. The proclamation lifts the ban on nonimmigrant visas for Turkmen nationals, citing improved cooperation with US authorities, while keeping restrictions on immigrant visas in place.
- Exceptions and visa rules -
The White House said the measures include exemptions for lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and cases deemed to serve US national interests. The proclamation also tightens certain family-based immigrant visa exemptions due to what it described as documented fraud risks, while preserving case-by-case waiver options.
