Trump Orders New and Expanded Travel Ban Citing Security, Visa Overstays

Trump Expands Travel Restrictions, Bans Entry From 19 Countries Starting 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a sweeping proclamation expanding and extending restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals from dozens of countries, citing national security concerns, terrorism risks, visa overstays and what the administration described as chronic failures in foreign governments’ screening and recordkeeping systems.

The proclamation, effective Jan. 1, 2026, continues full travel bans on nationals of 12 countries — Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — and adds seven more countries to the list of those facing a complete suspension of immigrant and nonimmigrant entry: Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Syria.

The order also bars entry to foreign nationals traveling on passports or travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, citing active terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza and what the administration called severely compromised vetting systems.

In addition, the administration imposed partial entry restrictions on nationals of 15 other countries — Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe — largely suspending family-based immigrant visas and common nonimmigrant categories such as tourist, business, student and exchange visas. Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain under partial restrictions first imposed earlier this year.

Turkmenistan, which had previously faced partial restrictions, saw some limits eased after what the administration described as improved cooperation with U.S. authorities. Tourist, business and student visa bans for Turkmen nationals were lifted, though immigrant visas remain suspended.

Trump said the measures were necessary to protect Americans from terrorism, transnational crime and fraud, and to prevent abuse of U.S. immigration laws. He cited high visa overstay rates, unreliable or inaccessible criminal records, widespread corruption and the inability or refusal of some governments to accept back deported nationals.

“Absent these measures, the entry of certain foreign nationals would be detrimental to the interests of the United States,” Trump said in the proclamation.

The administration said some affected countries lack basic systems to reliably document births, marriages or criminal histories, while others have been infiltrated by terrorist groups or criminal networks. In several cases, officials cited handwritten civil documents, fraudulent document markets and governments that control only portions of their territory.

The proclamation also tightens exceptions that previously allowed family-based immigrant visas from restricted countries, arguing that such pathways have been exploited for fraud or criminal activity. Exceptions remain for lawful permanent residents, certain diplomats, athletes participating in major international sporting events, U.S. government special immigrant visa holders, and some persecuted religious and ethnic minorities from Iran. Case-by-case waivers may also be granted if officials determine travel serves U.S. national interests.

The policy builds on restrictions Trump imposed during his first term, which were upheld by the Supreme Court, and on actions taken earlier this year under Executive Order 14161 and Proclamation 10949. The administration said it will review the restrictions every 180 days and may modify or lift them if countries improve cooperation on screening, vetting and information sharing.

No visas issued before Jan. 1, 2026, will be revoked under the new order, and the proclamation does not apply to asylum seekers or refugees already admitted to the United States.

The White House said the State Department will continue to engage affected countries to encourage reforms, while the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice will oversee enforcement of the new restrictions.

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