Washington, December 16, 2025 (Agencies) – President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation expanding the U.S. travel ban to cover more than 30 countries, citing national security concerns and deficiencies in vetting systems.
The updated restrictions impose full entry bans on nationals from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone. The ban also applies to individuals holding Palestinian Authority travel documents.
Several other nations face partial entry restrictions, including Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela, along with 15 newly added countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In total, more than 39 countries and entities are now subject to restrictions under the expanded travel ban.
Officials said the move was necessary to protect U.S. borders against potential threats, while critics warned it could disproportionately affect refugees, students, and families with ties to the United States.
The expanded ban revives and broadens one of Trump’s hallmark policies from his first term, significantly increasing the scope of restricted travel and underscoring the administration’s continued emphasis on tightening immigration controls.