Immigration and customs enforcement at an airport / Envato Market

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON D.C. — (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation significantly expanding the United States’ travel ban, barring individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority–issued passports from entering the country and imposing full or partial restrictions on dozens of additional nations, the White House announced.

The expanded policy, which takes effect January 1, 2026, builds on a June proclamation that imposed full bans on citizens from 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others. The White House said the latest move is aimed at strengthening national security and public safety by addressing persistent deficiencies in vetting, screening, and information-sharing by foreign governments.

In a statement posted on social media, a White House account said the president was acting “to protect the security of the United States,” citing long-standing concerns about corruption, unreliable civil documentation, and the inability of certain governments to verify travelers’ identities.

Under the new proclamation, full entry bans will apply to citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone. Individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued or endorsed travel documents are also subject to a full ban, according to the White House.

The administration said the decision regarding Palestinian Authority passports was driven by ongoing security concerns in the West Bank and Gaza, including the presence of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations and the impact of more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

A White House fact sheet stated that “several U.S.-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens,” adding that the recent conflict has likely compromised vetting and screening capabilities. The administration also cited what it described as weak or nonexistent control by the Palestinian Authority over certain areas, making reliable identity verification impossible.

Palestinian Authority passports are most commonly held by residents of Gaza, while many Palestinians in the West Bank carry Jordanian passports, which are not affected by the ban. Earlier this fall, reports indicated that the U.S. had already quietly frozen most visa processing for PA passport holders, with limited exceptions.

The proclamation also expands partial entry restrictions to an additional 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The White House said these countries face heightened scrutiny due to high visa overstay rates, inadequate civil documentation systems, or limited cooperation with U.S. authorities. Nigeria, in particular, has been under increased attention from the Trump administration amid concerns over violence and the treatment of Christians, allegations the Nigerian government disputes.

Regarding Syria, the administration acknowledged recent diplomatic engagement with the country’s new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, but said conditions on the ground remain unstable. The proclamation noted that Syria “still lacks an adequate central authority for issuing passports or civil documents” and does not yet have sufficient screening and vetting measures in place.

The expansion follows a series of aggressive immigration enforcement actions taken since Trump returned to office in January, including stepped-up deportations, tightened asylum policies, and increased scrutiny of refugee and resettlement programs. Administration officials also pointed to the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of killing two U.S. National Guard members as underscoring the need for stricter entry standards.

The ban applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including tourists, students, and business travelers, with limited case-by-case waivers. Exceptions may be granted for lawful permanent residents, dual nationals traveling on a non-restricted passport, and athletes or staff participating in major international sporting events such as the Olympics or World Cup.

Trump first imposed a travel ban during his initial term in office, targeting several Muslim-majority countries — a move that sparked widespread protests and prolonged legal battles. While the current expansion has drawn criticism from immigration advocates, the reaction has been more muted than during his first administration.

The White House said the restrictions will remain under review and could be adjusted if countries demonstrate “meaningful and sustained improvements” in security cooperation and identity verification.

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