Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation expanding American travel restrictions, adding 20 more countries and imposing a complete ban on travel by holders of Palestinian Authority–issued documents, the White House announced.

The move sharply widens limits on who can visit or immigrate to the United States.

Under the updated order, five countries now face a full suspension of travel to the US, while 15 additional countries are subject to partial restrictions. The proclamation also fully blocks entry for people using Palestinian Authority travel documents, regardless of the purpose of travel.

Why did the US administration expand the travel ban?

The White House said the decision is part of a broader effort to tighten US entry standards and protect national security. Officials linked the move to recent security incidents, including the arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House during Thanksgiving weekend.

In the proclamation, Trump said many of the affected countries suffer from “widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents, and criminal records”, making it difficult for US authorities to properly vet travelers. The administration also cited high visa overstay rates, governments refusing to accept deported nationals, political instability, and weak law enforcement systems.

Which countries face a complete travel ban?

The latest order adds Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the list of countries facing full entry bans in America. Travel by people holding Palestinian Authority–issued documents is also completely restricted. South Sudan had already been under heavy limitations prior to the new proclamation.

Additionally, Laos and Sierra Leone, which previously faced partial restrictions, have now been moved to the full-ban category.

Which countries are under partial travel restrictions?

Fifteen countries were added to the partial-restriction list. These include:

  • Angola
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Ivory Coast
  • Dominica
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Malawi
  • Mauritania
  • Nigeria
  • Senegal
  • Tanzania
  • Tonga
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Partial restrictions generally limit certain visa categories rather than imposing a total ban.

Who is exempt from the new travel restrictions?

The administration said several exemptions remain in place. Lawful permanent residents, people who already hold valid US visas, diplomats, athletes, and certain other visa holders are exempt. Entry may also be allowed if it is deemed to serve US national interests. The White House has not specified when the new measures will take effect.

Changes to earlier restrictions

While most provisions announced in June remain unchanged, the administration said Turkmenistan has seen some easing of restrictions due to improvements in compliance and cooperation.

The original round of travel restrictions, announced in June, barred citizens of 12 countries from entering the US and imposed partial limits on seven others, reviving a policy that defined Trump’s first term.

How do the new rules affect Palestinians?

The latest measures against Palestinians go further than earlier actions. In recent months, holders of Palestinian Authority passports already faced near-total barriers to obtaining US visas for tourism, work, study, or business. The new proclamation effectively blocks Palestinian emigration to the United States.

 

According to the proclamation, several “US-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens.”

It also says the ongoing war has weakened vetting and screening systems in the region.