US tightens borders, adds 20 countries to travel ban
The Trump administration has expanded its travel ban, imposing new entry restrictions on 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority (PA) , citing US national security and public safety concerns.
US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Tuesday to broaden and strengthen entry limits on nationals from countries assessed as having serious deficiencies in screening, vetting and information-sharing mechanisms. The move was described as necessary to safeguard the United States from national security and public safety threats.
According to the proclamation, the restrictions were introduced because sufficient information to assess potential risks posed by certain foreign nationals is lacking, while cooperation from some foreign governments remains inadequate. It was also stated that challenges persist in enforcing US immigration laws and advancing broader foreign policy, counterterrorism and security objectives.
Under the new policy, restrictions vary in scope , with partial limitations allowing entry under select visa categories and exemptions, while full restrictions largely bar entry except for narrowly defined national-interest waivers.
Partial entry restrictions
have been imposed on nationals from 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe .
Meanwhile, full restrictions and entry limitations have been enforced on nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria.
In a significant addition, full restrictions have also been placed on individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. The proclamation stated that active operations of US-designated terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been recorded, and that American citizens have been killed in attacks linked to these groups. It was noted that the ongoing conflict in these areas has likely compromised existing vetting and screening capabilities.
It was further stated that, due to weak or non-existent administrative control exercised by the Palestinian Authority in these regions, reliable vetting and approval for entry into the United States cannot currently be ensured for holders of PA-issued or endorsed documents.
The proclamation also upgraded Laos and Sierra Leone from partial to full restrictions, while partial restrictions will continue for nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela.
The administration said that additional entry limitations are required to protect US national security and public safety interests. It also confirmed the continuation of full restrictions on nationals from 12 previously identified high-risk countries Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Exemptions
have been provided for lawful permanent residents , existing visa holders, select visa categories such as diplomats and athletes , and individuals whose entry is determined to serve US national interests .
The proclamation noted that systematic failures in identity verification, high visa overstay rates, and the refusal of some governments to accept deported nationals have placed significant burdens on US immigration enforcement agencies.
It was also stated that terrorist, criminal and extremist activity, coupled with political instability and weak government control across several listed countries predominantly in Africa, with additional nations in the Middle East and parts of Asia has led to deficient vetting processes, posing direct risks to American citizens and US interests.
The expanded travel ban comes amid an intensified immigration crackdown, both legal and illegal, following the shooting of two National Guard troops last month by an Afghan national who entered the US under a Biden-era evacuation programme after the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Trump administration paused Green Card, citizenship and other immigration applications from immigrants originating from 19 countries of concern , which largely overlap with the nations covered under the June travel ban proclamation .