Trump doubles travel‑ban list to 39 nations; eases Turkmenistan limits, narrows exemptions
President Trump issued a proclamation doubling the number of countries facing U.S. travel bans or limits — expanding the list from 19 to 39 with new full and partial restrictions and citing unreliable civil documents, corruption, high overstay rates, refusal to accept deportees and instability (the proclamation also bars travel on Palestinian Authority–issued documents). The administration narrowed exemptions — eliminating a prior carve‑out for relatives of U.S. citizens with pending visa petitions while retaining limited exceptions for lawful permanent residents and participants in major sporting events (including the 2026 World Cup) — and eased restrictions on Turkmenistan after improved information‑sharing.
📌 Key Facts
- On Dec. 16, 2025, the White House issued a proclamation expanding U.S. travel restrictions, increasing the number of countries facing full or partial bans to 39 — more than double the June list of 19 (12 fully barred, 7 partially restricted).
- The proclamation added multiple countries to full entry restrictions; reported additions include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, and some outlets also listed Laos and Sierra Leone among newly fully restricted countries.
- Partial entry limits were imposed on 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- The proclamation fully bars travelers using Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents and eliminated a prior exception that had exempted children, spouses and parents of U.S. citizens with pending visa petitions.
- Limited exceptions remain — including for lawful permanent residents and for athletes, coaches, essential support staff and immediate relatives participating in major sporting events (e.g., the 2026 FIFA World Cup) — while general fans from banned nations remain barred.
- The administration cited reasons such as unreliable civil documents, corruption, high overstay rates, refusal to accept deportees and political instability; DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly urged a “full travel ban” after meeting with President Trump and said she would recommend expanding the list to “over 30” countries.
- Restrictions on Turkmenistan were eased because of improved U.S. information‑sharing, and the expansion came amid broader immigration policy changes this year and after the arrest of an Afghan national accused in a Thanksgiving‑weekend National Guard shooting near the White House.
📊 Relevant Data
In FY2023, Burkina Faso had a suspected in-country overstay rate of 11.75% for B1/B2 visas, compared to the non-VWP average of 3.04%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report FY23 Data — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In FY2023, Mali had a suspected in-country overstay rate of 5.11% for B1/B2 visas, compared to the non-VWP average of 3.04%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report FY23 Data — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In FY2023, Niger had a suspected in-country overstay rate of 7.08% for B1/B2 visas, compared to the non-VWP average of 3.04%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report FY23 Data — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In FY2023, South Sudan had a suspected in-country overstay rate of 4.35% for B1/B2 visas, compared to the non-VWP average of 3.04%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report FY23 Data — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In FY2023, Syria had a suspected in-country overstay rate of 9.43% for B1/B2 visas, compared to the non-VWP average of 3.04%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report FY23 Data — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In FY2023, Nigeria had a suspected in-country overstay rate of 6.91% for B1/B2 visas, compared to the non-VWP average of 3.04%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report FY23 Data — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Burkina Faso scored 41 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating moderate perceived public sector corruption.
Corruption Perceptions Index by Country 2025 — World Population Review
Mali scored 27 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating high perceived public sector corruption.
Corruption Perceptions Index by Country 2025 — World Population Review
South Sudan scored 8 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking it as the most corrupt country.
Corruption Perceptions Index by Country 2025 — World Population Review
Syria scored 12 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating very high perceived public sector corruption.
Corruption Perceptions Index by Country 2025 — World Population Review
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
"The piece critiques the Trump administration’s plan to broaden travel bans and visa restrictions as a blunt, counterproductive approach that endangers the U.S. economy, scientific enterprise and diplomatic standing, and urges a shift to targeted vetting and narrower security measures rather than blanket bans."
"The column critiques the Trump administration’s push for broad, country‑level travel and asylum bans—arguing they are ineffective, legally and diplomatically risky, economically damaging, and that smarter, targeted vetting would better serve security and humanitarian goals."
📰 Sources (7)
- Total countries affected rises to 39, more than double the June list.
- Seven countries added to full entry restrictions: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Laos, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria.
- Partial entry limits imposed on 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Restrictions on Turkmenistan were eased due to improved information‑sharing with the U.S.
- The proclamation eliminates a prior exception that exempted children, spouses and parents of U.S. citizens who had pending visa petitions.
- Confirms a ban on travelers using Palestinian Authority–issued documents.
- Notes limited exceptions, including for lawful permanent residents and for athletes and staff participating in major sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- White House proclamation formally expands the travel ban on Dec. 16, 2025.
- Adds five fully banned countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
- Fully restricts travel by holders of Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents.
- Imposes partial restrictions on 15 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Administration cites unreliable civil documents, corruption, high overstay rates, refusal to accept deportees, and instability as reasons.
- Announcement follows arrest of an Afghan national accused in the Thanksgiving-weekend National Guard shooting near the White House.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the travel ban expansion will cover 'over 30' countries, shifting from deliberation to confirmation.
- Noem declined to name countries or a start date, saying President Trump is still evaluating which to include.
- She articulated criteria: countries lacking stable governments or the ability to help vet travelers should not have their citizens admitted.
- Context reiterated: this expansion builds on the June policy (12 fully barred, 7 restricted) and follows post‑shooting measures (halted asylum decisions, Afghan visa pause, shortened EAD validity).
- Current scope described: 12 countries barred from entry and seven with heightened restrictions (total 19).
- For the World Cup, specific exceptions apply to athletes, coaches, essential support roles and immediate relatives; general fans from banned nations remain barred.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reiterated Monday she will recommend a 'full travel ban' on additional countries.
- Multiple U.S. officials told CBS the administration is considering expanding the travel ban to around 30 countries (up from 19).
- Kristi Noem’s post‑meeting X statement explicitly urging a 'full travel ban' is quoted.
- DHS reiterated it will announce new additions to the list 'soon.'
- After meeting with President Trump, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly urged a 'full travel ban' on multiple countries, using explicit language in a post on X.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had already announced a travel ban covering 19 countries months ago and that Noem is recommending widening it.
- DHS told Axios it would be 'announcing the list soon,' but did not specify which countries.
- The article ties the recommendation to last week’s USCIS review of green‑card holders from 19 'countries of concern' and references the June proclamation underpinning those restrictions.