The Trump administration said Tuesday, December 16, 2025, it will expand U.S. travel and immigration restrictions to 20 additional countries and impose a full suspension for travelers using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents, a significant escalation of an entry policy first unveiled earlier this year.
The new measures take effect January 1, 2026, with exemptions for certain existing visa holders and select categories such as diplomats, athletes, lawful permanent residents, and case-by-case waivers where entry is deemed in the U.S. interest.
The expansion increases the total number of countries subject to some level of restriction to 39, according to the policy’s structure described by multiple outlets and reflected in the White House proclamation.
The administration framed the decision as part of a broader push to tighten screening and vetting standards amid concerns about document integrity, overstay rates, and cooperation with U.S. deportations.
In the proclamation published by the White House, the administration argued that persistent deficiencies in identity management and information sharing in certain jurisdictions—along with corruption and unreliable civil or criminal records—can prevent U.S. officials from completing effective vetting.
The document also reiterates that the Supreme Court upheld similar Trump-era restrictions in 2018, a legal backdrop the administration has repeatedly cited as it revives and expands the policy approach.
Newly added jurisdictions and document category (effective January 1, 2026)
Newly added to the full entry bar (not in the June order):
- Syria (newly barred; the order cites weak central document authority, screening gaps, and higher overstay rates)
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
Newly covered document category (treated as barred under the order):
- Individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority (which handles consular affairs for many Palestinians in the West Bank)
Upgraded from limited restrictions to a full entry bar:
New partial restrictions (reductions to education, employment, and business visas) for 15 additional countries:
- Nigeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Dominica
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Key exemptions (the order states these groups are not covered by the restrictions):
- Individuals deemed to serve U.S. national interests
- Existing visa holders
- Lawful permanent residents
- Certain visa categories
Policy rationale and immediate backlash
Administration officials linked the move to national security and immigration enforcement priorities, citing persistent screening shortfalls and, in some cases, visa overstay rates. The expansion followed heightened scrutiny after a recent high-profile criminal case involving an Afghan national in Washington, D.C., which the administration referenced as it rolled out additional immigration-related restrictions.
Critics condemned the broadened restrictions as overly sweeping. In a statement posted Tuesday, International Refugee Assistance Project official Laurie Ball Cooper said, “This expanded ban is not about national security but instead is another shameful attempt to demonize people simply for where they are from.”
Advocacy organizations focused on Afghan wartime partners also warned that changes could further constrain pathways for people who supported U.S. missions and have already undergone extensive vetting.
Reuters additionally reported the administration’s decision sits alongside wider immigration enforcement actions since January, as the White House continues to prioritize stricter border and interior enforcement.
