Trump expands travel ban to cover 20 more countries

Trump has expanded travel restrictions to a total of 39 countries, plus the Palestinian Authority.

WASHINGTON,— The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is expanding travel restrictions to 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority, effectively doubling the number of nations affected by earlier limits on who can travel or emigrate to the United States.

The new measures include five countries whose citizens are now completely barred from entering the U.S. as well as a full ban on travelers using documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

An additional 15 countries face partial restrictions, marking a broader tightening of U.S. travel and immigration policy.

The administration said the restrictions are part of ongoing efforts to ensure that travelers entering the United States meet high security and vetting standards.

Officials cited recent events, including the arrest of an Afghan national suspected in the Thanksgiving weekend shooting of two National Guard troops near the White House, as a reminder of the need for enhanced screening measures.

People who already hold valid visas, are lawful permanent residents, or qualify under certain visa categories such as diplomats or professional athletes are exempt from the new restrictions.

The proclamation issued Tuesday said the expanded restrictions would take effect on January 1.

In June, President Donald Trump first announced travel limitations affecting 12 countries whose citizens were banned from entering the U.S. and seven others that faced heightened restrictions.

Those earlier measures covered Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, while countries including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela faced partial restrictions.

The expanded ban announced Tuesday adds Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the list of countries whose citizens are barred from travel to the United States.

South Sudan, already facing strict limitations, continues to experience significant restrictions.

In addition, travelers using Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents are now fully prohibited from entering the U.S., representing the latest in a series of U.S. travel restrictions targeting Palestinians.

The 15 countries facing partial restrictions include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The restrictions apply to both visitors seeking to travel temporarily and those planning to immigrate to the U.S.

Officials cited several reasons for the expanded measures. Many of the affected countries were said to have high levels of corruption, unreliable or fraudulent civil documents, and criminal records that complicate vetting procedures.

Others were noted for failing to cooperate with the United States on deportations or for general instability and weak government control, which make screening difficult. National security and immigration enforcement concerns also factored into the decision.

The Afghan suspect involved in the White House National Guard shooting has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges.

Following that incident, the administration quickly announced additional restrictions on travelers from the original 19 countries already subject to prior limitations.

Critics of the expanded travel ban argue that the measures unfairly target people based solely on their country of origin.

Laurie Ball Cooper, vice president of U.S. Legal Programs at the International Refugee Assistance Project, called the expansion “another shameful attempt to demonize people simply for where they are from,” saying it is not driven by national security.

Advocates for Afghans who assisted U.S. operations in Afghanistan also raised concerns, noting that the new restrictions remove exceptions for the Special Immigrant Visa program.

This program allows Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the war to enter the country after extensive vetting. No One Left Behind, a nonprofit supporting the visa program, said the policy change “inadvertently restricts those who are among the most rigorously vetted in our history.”

Governments of newly affected countries responded cautiously. Dominica said it is treating the matter with “utmost seriousness and urgency” and is consulting U.S. officials to clarify the impact.

Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to the U.S., Ronald Saunders, said the matter is “quite serious” and indicated he will seek further information from American authorities.

The Trump administration also adjusted previous travel limitations. Restrictions on Laos and Sierra Leone were tightened, while Turkmenistan saw some easing of limitations after officials deemed the country to have improved vetting processes. Otherwise, the prior June restrictions remain in effect.

The expanded ban on Palestinians follows earlier measures that already made it difficult for holders of Palestinian Authority passports to obtain U.S. travel documents for business, tourism, or study.

The latest step extends the prohibition to emigration, effectively barring those individuals from relocating to the U.S.

In its statement justifying the decision, the administration cited ongoing threats from U.S.-designated terrorist groups operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that have previously killed American citizens.

Officials also said the recent conflict in these areas has compromised vetting and screening procedures, further motivating the travel restrictions.

Countries and entities subject to full bans or restrictions under the administration’s travel policy now include 39 countries (plus the Palestinian Authority):

Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and travelers using documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

(With files from AP)