WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump signed a major executive proclamation on Tuesday, more than doubling the number of countries subject to U.S. travel restrictions. The list of affected nations has grown from 19 to 39, marking a significant escalation in the administration’s “border security” and immigration agenda.
The White House justified the expansion by citing “severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” in the listed nations. Administration officials stated that the measures are necessary to prevent the entry of individuals who cannot be adequately vetted by U.S. security agencies.
The move comes as the President intensifies his immigration crackdown in the wake of a November shooting in Washington, D.C. The attack, which killed one National Guard member and critically wounded another, has been frequently cited by the administration as a catalyst for tightening entry requirements for foreign nationals.
Under the new proclamation, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, the restrictions are divided into two tiers: Full Restrictions, which bar nearly all entry, and Partial Restrictions, which typically target specific visa categories like tourism, student, and exchange visas.
The Expanded List of Restricted Countries
The 39 countries and territories now facing travel limitations are categorized below:
Countries Under Full Entry Restrictions (19 Total)
These nations face a near-total ban on immigrant and non-immigrant entry.
- Newly Added: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria.
- Elevated from Partial to Full: Laos, Sierra Leone.
- Carried Over from June Order: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
- Special Category: Palestinian Authority-issued travel document holders.
Countries Under Partial Entry Restrictions (20 Total)
These nations face limitations primarily on immigrant visas and specific non-immigrant categories.
- Newly Added: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Carried Over from June Order: Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
Turkmenistan’s restrictions were slightly eased; while it remains on the partial list, the administration lifted the ban on certain non-immigrant visas while maintaining a suspension on immigrant entry.
Impact and Exceptions
The new order is notably stricter than previous iterations, reportedly narrowing exceptions for family members of U.S. citizens and certain visa holders. However, the White House confirmed that the following groups generally remain exempt:
- Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders).
- Individuals with valid visas already in their possession before January 1.
- Certain diplomats and athletes participating in major international events.
Critics and humanitarian groups have voiced concerns over the expansion, noting that the list primarily affects majority-Muslim and African nations, while the administration maintains that the selections are based purely on data regarding visa overstays and security cooperation
