The Trump administration has expanded its travel ban to include five additional countries while imposing stricter limits on others.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, forms part of broader efforts to tighten United States entry standards for travel and immigration.
The move follows the arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard troops during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Countries Newly Added to the Travel Ban
The administration added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the list of countries whose citizens are banned from entering the United States.
In addition, the government imposed full travel restrictions on individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Countries Facing Partial Restrictions
Fifteen more countries will now face partial travel restrictions.
They include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
These restrictions may affect visa issuance and entry approvals.
Background to the Policy
In June, President Donald Trump announced a ban on citizens from 12 countries and restrictions on seven others.
Those earlier measures revived a signature immigration policy from his first term.
The affected countries at the time included Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, among others.
Reasons Cited by the White House
The White House said many of the affected countries lack reliable civil records and criminal databases.
It also cited corruption, weak government control, and high visa overstay rates.
Some countries, according to the administration, also refuse to accept deported nationals.
“These restrictions are necessary to protect national security,” the White House said in a proclamation.
Officials said the measures help the U.S. assess risks, enforce immigration laws, and advance counterterrorism goals.
Ongoing Legal Case
The Afghan man accused of shooting the two National Guard troops has pleaded not guilty.
Authorities said investigations remain ongoing.
