US President Donald Trump has expanded the scope of the travel ban on entry to the United States, adding five African countries to the list facing full restrictions.
The newly added countries are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and South Sudan, along with Syria and holders of Palestinian travel documents.
In a statement, the White House said the measure, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, is intended to “protect the nation from threats to national security and public safety,” citing deficiencies in screening and vetting systems in the targeted countries.
The decision also imposes a full ban on Laos and Sierra Leone, which had previously been subject to partial restrictions.
The expansion follows an earlier proclamation signed by Trump in June, which banned or restricted entry for nationals of 19 countries on security grounds.
The move is part of a broader policy to tighten immigration measures pursued by the Trump administration since his return to the presidency at the start of this year.
