Donald Trump Imposes Travel Ban on Citizens of 7 More Countries, Tightens Restrictions on Palestinians | Full List
Washington, December 17, 2025:
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a new presidential proclamation expanding travel restrictions on foreign nationals from seven additional countries, citing the need to protect national security. With this move, the total number of countries facing full U.S. entry bans has increased from 12 to 19, according to an official statement from the White House.
The proclamation, announced late Tuesday night (IST), bars the entry of citizens from the newly added countries and further tightens restrictions on individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Seven New Countries Added to the Full Travel Ban
The seven countries newly added to the list are:
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Syria
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Burkina Faso
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Mali
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Niger
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South Sudan
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Laos
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Sierra Leone
Explaining the decision, the White House said the measures were taken to “safeguard the security of the United States.” Syria’s inclusion follows a recent ISIS attack in which two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter were killed. The deaths of Brian Torres-Tover and William Nathaniel Howard marked the first killing of U.S. troops in Syria since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Countries Already Under Full Entry Ban
These seven nations have been added to an existing list of 12 countries whose citizens are currently barred from entering the United States. Those countries are:
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Afghanistan
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Myanmar (Burma)
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Chad
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Republic of the Congo
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Equatorial Guinea
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Eritrea
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Haiti
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Iran
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Libya
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Somalia
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Sudan
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Yemen
New Restrictions on Palestinians
In addition to country-specific bans, the Trump administration has imposed full entry restrictions and tighter screening measures on individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. The move is likely to draw international attention and criticism amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Partial Travel Restrictions on 19 Countries
The administration has also imposed partial travel restrictions on several “high-risk” countries. These measures may include limits on certain visa categories, enhanced screening, or conditional entry. The countries under partial restrictions are:
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Burundi
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Cuba
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Togo
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Venezuela
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Angola
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Benin
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Côte d’Ivoire
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Dominica
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Gabon
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The Gambia
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Malawi
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Mauritania
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Nigeria
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Senegal
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Tanzania
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Tonga
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Zambia
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Zimbabwe
Turkmenistan Removed from the List
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan has been removed from the restricted list due to what the U.S. government described as “productive engagement” with Washington. However, despite limited exemptions for non-immigrant visas, Turkmen nationals will continue to face restrictions on immigrating to the United States.
The expanded travel ban marks another major step in President Trump’s hardline immigration and security policy, reinforcing his administration’s focus on strict border controls, counterterrorism, and enhanced vetting of foreign nationals.