US President Donald Trump has expanded the United States’ travel ban, imposing full entry restrictions on nationals from five additional countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The White House announced that the new measures will take effect on January 1, describing them as necessary to protect US national security.
Under the directive, full travel restrictions now apply to citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, as well as individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents.
The administration has also upgraded Laos and Sierra Leone from partial restrictions to the full ban list, while partial entry restrictions have been imposed on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
President Trump said the decision was based on what his administration described as serious failures in overseas screening and vetting systems, citing high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil documentation, corruption, terrorist activity, and poor cooperation in accepting deported nationals.
The White House also referenced the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard troops during the Thanksgiving weekend, using the incident to underline its security concerns.
This marks the third time Trump has imposed a travel ban. During his first term in 2017, a similar policy sparked global protests and legal challenges but was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court.
According to US officials, the restrictions will remain in force until affected countries demonstrate credible improvements in identity management, information sharing, and cooperation with US immigration authorities.
However, the ban includes several exemptions. It does not apply to lawful permanent residents, diplomats, many existing visa holders, or athletes travelling for major international sporting events. Authorities also indicated that case-by-case waivers may be granted where travel is deemed to be in the national interest.
Countries Under Full Entry Restrictions
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents.
Countries Under Partial Restrictions
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Special Case
Turkmenistan — restrictions remain for immigrant visas but have been lifted for non-immigrant travel.
