US Expands Travel Restrictions, Adding 20 Nations and Palestinian Authority to Entry Ban List

Washington, Dec 2025 : US President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation significantly expanding travel restrictions to the United States, adding 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority to the list of places facing limits on entry.

The move dramatically widens restrictions on who can visit or immigrate to the US, reviving and expanding a policy that was a hallmark of Trump’s first term. With this latest step, five countries now face a full travel ban, while 15 others are subject to partial restrictions. In addition, the administration has imposed a complete entry ban on individuals travelling with Palestinian Authority-issued documents.

According to the White House, the decision is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen US entry procedures and tighten security. Officials linked the expanded restrictions to national security concerns and cited the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House over Thanksgiving weekend as one of the triggers.

While broad in scope, the restrictions include several exemptions. Individuals who already hold valid US visas are exempt, as are lawful permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, and certain other categories of visa holders. The proclamation also allows for exceptions if admitting an individual is deemed to be in US national interest. However, the administration did not specify a date for when the new measures will officially go into effect.

The original round of restrictions was announced in June, when citizens of 12 countries were banned from entering the United States outright and nationals from seven others faced partial limitations. That June list included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, with partial restrictions applied to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The updated proclamation adds Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the full ban category. Notably, South Sudan had already been subject to significant limits, which have now been elevated to a complete ban. The policy also formally bans entry by anyone using documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, expanding on earlier restrictions that had already made travel to the US exceptionally difficult for Palestinians seeking visas for work, study, business, or tourism.

An additional 15 countries have been placed under partial restrictions, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The proclamation, which applies to both visitors and immigrants, affects short-term travel as well as applications for permanent entry. In the document, President Trump argued that many of the countries facing restrictions suffered from “widespread corruption, unreliable civil documents, and criminal activity,” which he said made it difficult for US authorities to properly vet travelers.

Officials also pointed to high visa overstay rates, claims that some governments refuse to cooperate in accepting deported citizens, and concerns about instability and limited government control in certain territories. National security, immigration enforcement, and foreign policy priorities were all cited as factors.

The updated measures also modify previous restrictions: Laos and Sierra Leone have moved from partial limits to a full suspension, while Turkmenistan received a limited easing of restrictions after what officials described as demonstrated improvements. All other conditions announced in June remain unchanged.

The ban on Palestinian Authority documents marks a major escalation. The proclamation cites the activities of “US-designated terrorist groups” in Gaza and the West Bank and claims that recent conflict has weakened vetting and screening capabilities in those areas. The decision now prevents Palestinians using PA passports from emigrating to the US entirely.

Travel bans have been a defining and controversial feature of Trump’s immigration policy. Challenges to earlier versions prompted nationwide protests and legal battles, though revised policies were later upheld by the courts. Supporters argue that the restrictions are necessary to protect national security, while critics contend that they unfairly target individuals based on nationality and deepen global division.

With this latest expansion, the issue is once again set to be at the center of US immigration debate — both at home and abroad.

Team Maverick.