Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Trump Expands US Travel Ban


(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has broadened the nation’s travel restriction list by including eight more countries, among them Syria and the Palestinian Authority. These newly imposed limitations are scheduled to commence on January 1.

The administration stated that this action is part of a wider strategy to reinforce entry controls for foreign nationals from countries with “chronic vetting deficiencies,” which hinder US authorities from effectively determining whether travelers are admissible, according to a White House proclamation released on Tuesday.

The gaps in vetting could potentially be used to “threaten United States national security,” the statement added.

The expanded travel prohibition now prevents citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone from entering the US. It also applies to individuals traveling with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Syria’s inclusion on the list follows a recent attack in which two US soldiers and a civilian were killed by a suspected Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) operative. The restriction was imposed despite Trump’s efforts to improve relations with the newly established government in Damascus, which assumed power last year after jihadist factions ousted long-time president Bashar Assad.

The proclamation clarifies that the updated measures will not affect individuals who have already been granted asylum in the United States.

This latest expansion builds on a previous US travel ban announced in June 2025, which restricted entry for nationals from 19 countries, citing national security concerns.

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