Trump Expands US Travel Ban: What Changed in the New Proclamation
Trump expands US travel ban, US travel ban countries, Trump immigration policy,US visa restrictions, Palestine travel ban, White House proclamation, US border security, banned countries listUS President Donald Trump has expanded the US travel ban, adding five more countries and Palestinian Authority travel document holders to the full-entry restriction list, citing national security, terrorism risks, and weak vetting systems.
According to a White House proclamation, the decision is aimed at protecting the United States from public safety threats, including terrorist presence, criminal activity, high visa overstay rates, and unreliable civil documentation systems.
The expanded US travel ban will come into force on January 1, marking the third major travel restriction order issued by Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this year.
Countries Newly Added to the Full US Travel Ban
The latest expansion places full entry restrictions on nationals from:
- Palestine (Palestinian Authority-issued documents)
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
In addition, Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, have now been shifted to the full suspension category.
Full List of Countries Under Complete US Travel Ban
The updated list now includes 19 countries, such as:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents are also barred from entry.
Countries Facing Partial Travel Restrictions
Partial restrictions mainly affect immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas like tourist, student, and exchange visas.
Countries under partial curbs include:
Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola, Senegal, Zambia, Cuba, Venezuela, Togo, Burundi, Gabon and others.
Why Trump Expanded the US Travel Ban
The White House cited:
- High visa overstay rates
- Poor identity verification systems
- Weak law-enforcement cooperation
- Alleged terrorist and extremist activity
- Corruption and citizenship-by-investment loopholes
Officials also referenced a recent fraud case involving Somali nationals in Minnesota, allegedly siphoning over $1 billion in taxpayer funds.
Exceptions and Waivers
The travel ban does not apply to:
- US permanent residents (Green Card holders)
- Existing valid visa holders
- Diplomats and UN officials
- Athletes attending major international events
Case-by-case waivers will be granted if travel serves US national interest.
Stay tuned to Global India Broadcast News for Top Stories, Breaking News, Live Updates, and Latest Global Headlines.
