Former President Trump has implemented comprehensive travel bans affecting seven additional countries and Palestinians, restricting entry into the United States amid security and immigration concerns, sparking widespread debate and international reactions.
Full travel bans introduced by Trump for seven more nations and Palestinians
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump significantly widened the country’s travel restrictions, adding seven more nations, including Syria, as well as holders of Palestinian Authority passports, to the list of those barred from entering the United States.
With this expansion, nearly 40 countries now face entry restrictions based solely on nationality. At the same time, Trump has tightened travel regulations for citizens of several Western nations. The move aligns with his longstanding hardline stance on immigration, including mass deportations and increasingly strong rhetoric against non-white newcomers.
The White House stated in its proclamation that the ban targets foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans or could “undermine or destabilize” the country’s culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.
The Syrian restriction comes shortly after the deaths of two US troops and a civilian in the war-torn nation. Syrian authorities reported that the attacker was a member of the security forces facing dismissal for “extremist Islamist ideas.” Trump has recently sought to re-engage with Syria diplomatically following the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad.
The ban on Palestinian Authority passport holders had already been informally in place, reflecting US support for Israel amid disputes over recognition of a Palestinian state by countries such as France and Britain.
The newly restricted countries also include some of Africa’s poorest nations — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan — as well as Laos in Southeast Asia.
Partial travel limits were also applied to citizens of other African countries, including Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, allowing athletes to participate in the upcoming World Cup in the US, though fans from blacklisted nations have no such exemptions.
Additional nations facing partial restrictions include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Polynesian country of Tonga. Notably, Angola, Senegal, and Zambia have been key US partners in Africa, with former President Joe Biden recognizing their dedication to democratic principles.
Ramping up anti-immigrant tone
The White House has acknowledged that Turkmenistan, which had previously been included in US travel restrictions, has shown “significant progress” in addressing concerns that had led to its earlier targeting. As a result, citizens of this Central Asian nation are once again eligible to apply for visas to enter the United States, though these will be limited strictly to non-immigrant visas, meaning the opportunity applies only to temporary stays rather than permanent residency or long-term immigration.
This adjustment reflects a rare instance of the administration easing restrictions, but broader US immigration and refugee policies remain extremely tight under the Trump administration. Refugee admissions, in particular, have been sharply curtailed in recent months. The United States now allows only a very narrow group to enter as refugees, specifically South Africans from the white Afrikaner minority. This marks a dramatic reduction compared with historical refugee intake and highlights the administration’s highly selective approach to migration.
The combination of the Turkmenistan exception and the near-complete halt to refugee admissions illustrates the administration’s dual strategy: maintain strict control over who can enter while selectively recognizing countries that meet certain criteria. Even with Turkmen citizens being allowed non-immigrant access, permanent immigration pathways remain effectively closed for most, and refugees from conflict-affected regions continue to face severe restrictions.
Experts and advocacy groups have criticized the policy as being overly restrictive and discriminatory, arguing that it puts vulnerable populations at increased risk and undermines longstanding US commitments to humanitarian protection. The focus on specific nationalities, along with the highly limited refugee intake, has sparked debates over fairness, legality, and the long-term implications for the United States’ role in providing refuge to those fleeing persecution.
Overall, while the decision to allow Turkmen nationals temporary access represents a minor concession, the broader framework under the Trump administration continues to severely limit opportunities for immigration and refuge.
