On December 16, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation expanding US entry restrictions to around 40 countries, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The move targets nationals from nations deemed to have serious screening, vetting, and information-sharing gaps.
The list of countries now fully restricted has grown from 12 to about 20. Previously covered in June 2025 were Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Today’s update adds Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents. Laos and Sierra Leone have also moved from partial to full restrictions.
Partial restrictions will now apply to 20 countries, up from seven. Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela remain under partial limits, while Turkmenistan faces full restrictions on immigrant visas but regains non-immigrant visa access. The new partial list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This expansion follows a shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., during Thanksgiving week in November and a suspect who had obtained asylum in April. Last month, USCIS launched fresh reviews of green card holders from 19 previously identified countries of concern. The State Department also suspended Afghan passport visa issuance, and the president announced plans to permanently suspend immigration from 'Third World countries.'
For global travelers, digital nomads, and business professionals, these changes signal a shift toward more stringent vetting and could impact planning for 2026 trips, work visas, and cultural exchanges. Stay tuned to myglobalnews.net for analysis on how these policies unfold and what they mean for cross-border mobility.
Reference(s):
Trump expands list of countries subject to entry restrictions
cgtn.com
