Trump Administration Expands Ban on Entry of Foreign Nationals

Key Point

• The Trump administration announced new restrictions barring the entry of certain foreign nationals to protect U.S. security

Entry Restrictions for Specific Countries

On December 16, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation expanding the U.S. entry ban to cover additional countries and categories of foreign nationals. The updated restrictions now apply to 17 countries in total, with full entry bans on several new nations and expanded limitations on others.

The proclamation continues full entry bans on nationals from the original twelve countries already subject to restrictions: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

In addition, the administration added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria to the list of countries subject to full entry bans. Nationals holding Palestinian Authority‑issued travel documents are also barred from entry. Reports indicate that Laos and Sierra Leone have moved from partial restrictions to full bans.

What the Ban Does

• Full entry ban: Nationals of the listed countries cannot enter the U.S. for any purpose (immigrant or non‑immigrant visas).
• Security rationale: The administration cited “persistent and severe deficiencies” in vetting and information‑sharing from these governments.
• Legal authority: Implemented under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
• Impact on employers and travelers:
  • Visa issuance for affected nationals is suspended.
  • Employers cannot sponsor workers from these countries under standard visa categories.
  • Travelers with passports or travel documents from restricted countries will be denied entry.

Background Information

These new bans build on earlier actions by USCIS, which had already suspended and reviewed applications from high‑risk countries. Together, the suspension of applications and the expanded entry bans reflect a coordinated effort to tighten U.S. immigration controls for nationals of countries deemed security risks.

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