US President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation that expands limits on the entry of foreign nationals into the United States. The White House said the order strengthens existing travel restrictions and reflects the administration’s focus on tighter security controls.
Officials described the move as part of a broader effort to prevent potential security risks.
Five More Countries Face Full Entry Ban
Under the latest decision, the US has imposed full entry restrictions on citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. These countries are added to an earlier group of nations already facing strict travel limits.
The White House also said that full restrictions now apply to individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Move Follows Washington Shooting
The decision marks a sharp escalation in President Trump’s security policies following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, on November 26.
Authorities said the alleged attacker was an Afghan national who had served in a CIA-affiliated unit in Afghanistan. He entered the US after the American withdrawal in 2021. He later went through a vetting process and was granted asylum earlier this year. The incident raised fresh questions about screening procedures.
Countries Already Under Full Restrictions
Before this expansion, the US had already placed full restrictions on citizens from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
These nations remain on the high-risk list under the latest proclamation.
Laos and Sierra Leone Now Fully Restricted
Laos and Sierra Leone had earlier faced partial entry limits. Under the new order, both countries are now subject to a full entry ban, bringing tighter controls on travel to the US.
Partial Restrictions Remain in Place
At the same time, some countries continue to face only partial restrictions. These include Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela. The administration has not announced any changes for these nations in the latest update.
Government to Re-examine Green Cards
Last month, the US government said it would re-examine green cards issued to people who arrived in the country from 19 specific nations.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services chief Joseph Edlow said President Donald Trump had directed the agency to carry out “a full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern”.
Nations Named in Review Process
When the BBC asked which countries were included, the agency pointed to a June White House proclamation. That document listed Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.
National Security at the Core
The proclamation explained that the policy is meant to restrict entry into the US to protect the country from “foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats.”
Officials said the expanded measures aim to strengthen immigration checks and reduce security risks.