Trump Expands U.S. Travel Ban, Widening Restrictions on African, Middle East States

GOOBJOOG NEWS | WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has expanded a U.S. travel ban to include five additional countries and people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents, tightening immigration controls as his administration cites growing security concerns.

Under the new order, full entry restrictions will apply from Jan. 1 to nationals of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, the White House said. Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial limits, were also moved to the full ban list.

The decision significantly increases the number of African countries facing U.S. entry restrictions, with officials saying the measures are intended to strengthen border security and address weaknesses in overseas screening and vetting systems.

The administration also imposed partial restrictions on travellers from 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, potentially affecting business travel, education exchanges and family reunification across parts of Africa and beyond.

White House officials cited high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil documentation, corruption, terrorist activity and poor cooperation on deportations as reasons for the expanded ban. The move follows the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two U.S. National Guard troops over the Thanksgiving weekend, which officials pointed to as underscoring security risks.

The expanded restrictions are expected to have wide diplomatic and humanitarian implications, particularly for countries already grappling with conflict, fragile institutions and economic pressure.

Trump, who has made immigration enforcement a central policy since returning to office in January, said the ban would remain in place until affected countries demonstrate “credible improvements” in identity management and information-sharing with U.S. authorities.

The White House said the order would not apply to U.S. permanent residents, most existing visa holders, diplomats or athletes travelling for major international sporting events, and that waivers would be considered on a case-by-case basis when travel serves U.S. national interests.

It marks the third time Trump has imposed a travel ban, reviving a policy that during his first term sparked widespread protests and legal challenges but was ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Additional reporting by agencies.