US expands travel ban to include Palestinians
Proclamation affects holders of Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents; Laos and Sierra Leone moved to full restriction status
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing new and expanded travel restrictions on foreign nationals from several countries, including a full entry ban on individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued passports or travel documents.
The measures, which the White House said are based on national security considerations, are set to take effect on January 1.
Under the proclamation, the administration has added five countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria — to the list of nations subject to full entry restrictions. In a significant move, the order explicitly applies the same level of restriction to anyone traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documentation.
Laos and Sierra Leone have also been upgraded from partial to full restriction status.
In addition, the proclamation expands partial entry limits — which apply to specific visa categories such as business, tourist, and student visas — to 15 additional countries.
These include Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.
In one limited exception, the administration lifted nonimmigrant visa restrictions for nationals of Turkmenistan, citing improved cooperation with U.S. authorities.
However, immigrant visa suspensions for Turkmen citizens remain in place.
The White House defended the sweeping measures as a core executive responsibility.
“It is the President’s duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people,” the proclamation stated.
Partial restrictions will continue to apply to several other countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela.
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