Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is expanding travel restrictions to include 20 additional countries, as well as the Palestinian Authority. This action doubles the number of nations affected by previously announced limits on travel and immigration to the United States.

Five more countries now face a complete ban on travel to the U.S., along with individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Fifteen other countries will face new limitations.

The administration says this move is part of an ongoing effort to tighten U.S. entry standards for both travel and immigration. Critics argue these measures unfairly prevent people from a wide array of countries from traveling to the U.S. The administration had suggested expanding the restrictions following the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend.

These restrictions do not apply to individuals who already possess visas, are lawful permanent residents of the U.S., or hold certain visa categories, such as diplomats or athletes. Exemptions are also granted if entry into the country is deemed to be in the U.S. interest. The new rules will take effect on January 1.

In June, President Trump announced a ban on citizens from 12 countries entering the U.S., with restrictions imposed on those from seven others, reviving a key policy from his first term.

The countries initially affected by the ban included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela faced heightened restrictions.

The new additions to the list of countries facing a complete ban are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. The administration is also fully restricting travel for individuals with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. South Sudan was already subject to significant travel restrictions.

Partial restrictions will now be applied to an additional 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The restrictions affect both individuals seeking to visit the U.S. and those intending to immigrate.

The Trump administration stated that many of the countries now facing restrictions have "widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents and criminal records," making it difficult to properly vet their citizens for travel to the U.S. The administration also cited concerns about high rates of visa overstays, refusal to accept the return of their citizens whom the U.S. wishes to deport, and a "general lack of stability and government control" hindering the vetting process. Immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and national security concerns were also cited as justification for the move.

The Afghan man accused of shooting the two National Guard troops near the White House has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges. Following that incident, the administration announced a series of immigration restrictions, including further limitations on individuals from the initial 19 countries already in the U.S.

The expanded travel ban is expected to face strong opposition from critics who argue that the administration is using national security concerns as a pretext to exclude people from a broad range of countries.

Laurie Ball Cooper, vice president of U.S. Legal Programs at the International Refugee Assistance Project, stated, "This expanded ban is not about national security but instead is another shameful attempt to demonize people simply for where they are from."

Advocates for Afghans who supported the United States' war efforts in Afghanistan have also expressed concern, noting that the updated travel ban no longer includes an exception for Afghans who qualify for the Special Immigrant Visa – a visa category specifically designed for Afghans who closely assisted the U.S. war effort at great personal risk.

No One Left Behind, an organization advocating for the Special Immigrant Visa program, expressed "deep concern" about the change. While acknowledging the president's commitment to national security, the organization argued that allowing Afghans who served the U.S. to enter the country – after thorough vetting – also contributes to national security.

"Though intended to allow for review of inconsistent vetting processes, this policy change inadvertently restricts those who are among the most rigorously vetted in our history: the wartime allies targeted by the terrorists this proclamation seeks to address," the organization said in a statement.

Countries newly added to the list of banned or restricted nations have stated they are evaluating the news. The government of Dominica said it is treating the issue with "utmost seriousness and urgency" and is seeking clarification from U.S. officials regarding the restrictions and addressing any potential issues.

Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador to the United States, Ronald Saunders, described the matter as "quite serious" and indicated he will be seeking more information from U.S. officials regarding the new restrictions.

The Trump administration also upgraded restrictions on Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously on the partially restricted list. In one case, Turkmenistan, the administration stated that the country had improved enough to warrant easing some restrictions on travelers from that country. The administration confirmed that all other aspects of the previous travel restrictions announced in June remain in effect.

The new restrictions on Palestinians follow earlier limitations that made it nearly impossible for individuals holding a Palestinian Authority passport to obtain travel documents to visit the U.S. for business, work, pleasure, or educational purposes. Tuesday's announcement extends this further by banning people with Palestinian Authority passports from immigrating to the U.S.

In justifying its decision, the administration stated that several "U.S.-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens." The administration also cited the recent conflict in those areas, claiming it had "likely resulted in compromised vetting and screening abilities."