Trump Widens U.S. Travel Ban to 20 More Countries in Major Policy Shift

In a major escalation of U.S. immigration controls, the Trump administration has announced a sweeping expansion of travel restrictions, dramatically increasing the number of countries whose citizens face limits on entering the United States.

The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled an expanded travel ban that adds 20 more countries and the Palestinian Authority to existing restrictions, effectively doubling the number of nations affected by U.S. entry limits announced earlier this year.

The updated proclamation, which takes effect January 1, marks the most significant broadening of travel controls since President Donald Trump’s first term.

Under the new rules, five additional countries have been placed under a full travel ban, while 15 others now face partial restrictions. The policy also fully restricts travel for individuals using Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents, barring both immigration and temporary visits to the U.S.

Despite the expansion, exemptions remain in place. Individuals who already hold valid visas, U.S. lawful permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, and certain other visa categories — or those whose entry is deemed to serve U.S. national interests — are not affected by the restrictions.

Fully banned countries

Nationals from the following 17 countries are barred from entering the United States on both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas:

Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.

Partially restricted countries

Travelers from 15 additional countries now face limits on immigrant visas and certain nonimmigrant categories, including tourist, student, and exchange visas. These countries are:

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Several countries previously under partial restrictions have also seen changes. Laos and Sierra Leone have been moved to the full ban list, while Turkmenistan has seen partial easing for nonimmigrant visas. Other nations such as Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela remain under partial limits.

According to the administration, the expanded measures are aimed at addressing concerns over identity verification gaps, visa overstays, and limited cooperation on repatriation, particularly in parts of Africa. Officials describe the move as necessary to strengthen border security and immigration screening.

The decision revives one of President Trump’s most controversial policies, signaling a renewed focus on restrictive immigration measures as his administration reshapes U.S. travel and visa policy once again.

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