ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation significantly widening U.S. travel restrictions, adding multiple countries to an existing ban aimed at bolstering national security through enhanced screening and vetting.
The new measure builds on Proclamation 10949 from June 2025, which imposed full entry suspensions on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, and partial restrictions on seven others, such as Cuba, Laos, and Venezuela.
Under the expanded ban, full restrictions now also apply to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and holders of Palestinian Authority-issued documents, while Laos and Sierra Leone are elevated from partial to full restrictions.
🚨BREAKING: President Trump just signed a Proclamation further restricting and limiting the entry of foreign nationals to protect the security of the United States. 🔥
— Continues full restrictions and entry limitations of nationals from the original 12 high-risk countries:… pic.twitter.com/WHnj3PzGH2— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) December 16, 2025
Partial restrictions affecting immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, including tourist, business, student, and exchange programs, have been extended to 15 additional countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Restrictions on Turkmenistan non-immigrant visas were lifted following improved cooperation.
The administration cited concerns over poor identity management, high visa overstay rates, terrorist activity, corruption, and failure to repatriate nationals as reasons for the expansion. Exceptions remain for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, and certain case-by-case waivers serving U.S. interests.
Enhanced visa procedures will include expanded social media vetting and temporary pauses on select applications from restricted nations.
