Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries

"The Trump administration included five more countries as well as people traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority to the list of countries facing a full ban on travel to the U.S. and imposed new limits on 15 other countries. The move is part of ongoing efforts by the administration to tighten U.S. entry standards for travel and immigration, in what critics say unfairly prevents travel for people from a broad range of countries."

"The administration suggested it would expand the restrictions after the arrest of an Afghan national suspect in the shooting of two National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend. People who already have visas, are lawful permanent residents of the U.S. or have certain visa categories such as diplomats or athletes, or whose entry into the country is believed to serve the U.S. interest, are all exempt from the restrictions."

"At the time the ban included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen and heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. On Tuesday, the Republican administration announced it was expanding the list of countries whose citizens are banned from entering the U.S. to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria."

The Trump administration expanded U.S. travel restrictions to 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority, doubling the number of affected nations. Five countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria—were added to a full ban, and 15 others faced new limits. The administration cited concerns after the arrest of an Afghan national suspected in a shooting of two National Guard troops. Exemptions include existing visa holders, lawful permanent residents and certain visa categories such as diplomats and athletes, plus entries deemed to serve U.S. interests. The proclamation sets the changes to take effect on Jan. 1.

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