U.S. President Donald Trump has expanded the list of countries facing U.S. travel restrictions, adding several new nations to both full and partial entry bans, according to a White House announcement on Tuesday.
In a statement, the White House said Trump signed a proclamation “expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing,” citing national security and public safety concerns.
Under the new measures, citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents are now subject to a full entry ban. Laos and Sierra Leone, which previously faced partial restrictions, have also been moved to the full ban list. The expanded restrictions are set to take effect on January 1.
The decision comes despite Trump’s earlier pledge to support Syria’s post-war recovery following talks in November with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who led the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. While the Trump administration had signaled cautious engagement with Sharaa, tensions resurfaced after a recent attack in Syria that killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, allegedly carried out by an Islamic State-linked attacker.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump vowed “very serious retaliation,” describing the incident as a “terrible” attack. The White House also cited high visa overstay rates and weak document-issuance systems in Syria as part of its justification for the ban.
“Syria is emerging from a prolonged period of civil unrest and lacks adequate central authority for issuing passports and civil documents,” the White House said, adding that the country does not yet have effective screening and vetting mechanisms in place.
Nigeria Added to Partial Restrictions List
In addition to full bans, the administration imposed partial travel restrictions on 15 additional countries, including Nigeria. These restrictions include enhanced vetting and entry limitations rather than an outright ban.
Nigeria’s inclusion follows earlier remarks by Trump, who in November threatened possible military action over the alleged persecution of Christians in the country. Nigerian officials have rejected the claim, saying it oversimplifies a complex security challenge and ignores efforts to protect religious freedom nationwide.
Broader Immigration Crackdown
The expanded travel restrictions build on a June proclamation that barred citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and restricted travelers from seven others. Those bans, which apply to both immigrants and non-immigrants—including tourists, students, and business travelers—remain in effect.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major U.S. cities and tightening asylum access at the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration has framed the measures as necessary to counter terrorism and address vetting failures.
The latest escalation follows the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. last month. Investigators say the suspect was an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through a resettlement program that Trump officials argue lacked sufficient screening.
Days after that incident, Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from what he referred to as “Third World countries,” without specifying which nations would be affected.
