Washington, D.C. | December 17, 2025
The Trump administration has expanded the scope of its travel ban, adding five more countries to the list of nations whose citizens are barred from entering the United States. In addition, 15 more countries have been placed under partial travel restrictions, further tightening America’s immigration policy.
The decision was announced through an executive order issued on Tuesday and is part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and immigration controls. The move comes amid heightened security concerns following a recent shooting incident in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghanistan-born individual that left two National Guard soldiers injured.
Earlier Ban Imposed on 12 Countries
In June, the Trump administration had imposed a full travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, while enforcing strict limitations on travelers from seven others. The fully restricted countries included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
At the same time, nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela were subjected to heightened screening and limited entry permissions. Similar travel policies were also a key feature of Trump’s first presidential term.
Five New Countries Added to Full Travel Ban
Under the latest order, the administration has added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the list of countries facing a complete U.S. travel ban. The government has also fully barred entry for individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
15 Countries Face Partial Travel Restrictions
The list of countries under partial restrictions has been significantly expanded. The newly added nations include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Officials said the restrictions are based on national security assessments, information-sharing practices, and concerns related to identity verification and immigration compliance.
The administration maintains that these measures are necessary to safeguard U.S. citizens and reinforce immigration enforcement amid evolving global security challenges.
