The Trump administration stated Tuesday, December 16, 2025, that it will occur increase U.S. journey and immigration restrictions to twenty extra international locations and an imposition full suspension for vacationers utilizing journey paperwork issued or authorized by the Palestinian Authoritya major escalation of an entry coverage first unveiled earlier this yr.
The brand new measures are in impact January 1, 2026with waivers for sure current visa holders and choose classes equivalent to diplomats, athletes, lawful everlasting residents, and case-by-case waivers the place entry is deemed within the U.S. curiosity.
The enlargement will increase the whole variety of international locations topic to a sure stage of restrictions 39following the construction of the coverage described by a number of retailers and mirrored within the White Home proclamation.
The federal government framed the choice as a part of a broader impulse tighten screening and vetting requirements amid considerations about doc integrity, overstays and cooperation with US deportations.
Within the proclamation revealed by the White Home, the administration argued that persistent deficiencies in id administration and data sharing in sure jurisdictions — together with corruption and unreliable civil and prison data — may forestall U.S. officers from finishing an efficient vetting.
The doc additionally reiterates that the Supreme Courtroom in 2018 upheld comparable Trump-era restrictions, a authorized backdrop the administration has repeatedly cited because it revives and expands the coverage method.
Newly added jurisdictions and doc class (efficient January 1, 2026)
Newly added to the total enter bar (not in June order):
- Syria (newly excluded; the order cites weak central doc authority, screening gaps and better overstay charges)
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
Newly coated doc class (handled as excluded underneath the order):
- People in possession of journey paperwork issued by the Palestinian Authority (which handles consular issues for a lot of Palestinians within the West Financial institution)
Upgraded from restricted restrictions to a full entry bar:
New partial restrictions (reductions in training, employment and enterprise visas) for 15 extra international locations:
- Nigeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Ivory Coast
- Dominica
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Vital exemptions (the choice states that these teams usually are not included within the restrictions):
- People deemed to serve US nationwide pursuits
- Present visa holders
- Lawful everlasting residents
- Sure visa classes
Coverage rationale and speedy response
Administration officers tied the transfer to nationwide safety and immigration enforcement priorities, citing persistent shortcomings in screening and, in some instances, visa overstays. The enlargement adopted heightened scrutiny following a latest high-profile prison case involving an Afghan in Washington, DC, which the administration referenced because it rolled out extra immigration-related restrictions.
Critics condemned the expanded restrictions as overly restrictive. In a single statement posted on Tuesday, Worldwide Refugee Help Challenge official Laurie Ball Cooper stated: “This sweeping ban just isn’t about nationwide safety, however is as an alternative yet one more shameful try and demonize individuals merely due to the place they arrive from.”
Advocacy teams concentrating on Afghan struggle companions additionally warned that adjustments may additional restrict choices for individuals who supported U.S. missions and have already undergone in depth screening.
Reuters moreover reported that the administration’s resolution coincides with broader immigration enforcement actions since January, because the White Home continues to prioritize stricter border and inside enforcement.