The Donald Trump administration has widened the US travel ban to cover more than 30 countries, stepping up its immigration crackdown following the arrest of an Afghan national suspected in the Thanksgiving weekend shooting of two National Guard troops. In June, President Trump had announced a ban on visitors from 12 countries, with restrictions imposed on citizens of seven others.
Announcing the expansion, the administration said many of the affected countries suffer from “widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents, and inadequate criminal records,” making vetting difficult. It also cited high visa overstay rates, refusal to accept deported nationals, and a general lack of stability or government control.
What the new proclamation says
Full restrictions remain in place for nationals of the original 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Five more countries face full restrictions following a fresh review: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, along with individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial limits, are now subject to full restrictions. Partial restrictions continue for nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela.
The proclamation lifts the ban on non-immigrant visas from Turkmenistan, citing improved cooperation with the US. It also imposes partial restrictions on 15 additional countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Exemptions apply to lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, select categories such as diplomats and athletes, and cases deemed to serve US national interests. The order also tightens certain family-based immigrant visa exemptions linked to fraud risks, while retaining case-by-case waivers.
