Trump Expands US Travel Ban to Seven More Countries, Palestinians Included

President Donald Trump has significantly broadened United States travel restrictions by imposing full entry bans on nationals from seven additional countries—Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Laos—as well as holders of Palestinian Authority passports, citing concerns over potential threats to national security and cultural stability.

The White House proclamation emphasises the administration's intent to prohibit entry by foreigners deemed likely to threaten American citizens or undermine the nation's government, institutions, culture, or founding principles, reflecting Trump's longstanding commitment to stringent immigration controls.

This expansion follows closely after an incident in Syria where two US troops and a civilian were killed by an individual reportedly holding extremist views, coinciding with efforts to normalise relations with the country post the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The administration has also maintained informal restrictions on Palestinian Authority passport holders in alignment with policy supporting Israel.

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Partial travel limitations have been introduced for citizens of several other nations, including Africa's most populous country Nigeria, alongside Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and various Caribbean states such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and The Gambia, with justifications including elevated crime rates and deficiencies in passport documentation processes.

The measures reinforce existing full bans on countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, while acknowledging progress by Turkmenistan, which will now permit limited non-immigrant visa issuance, as the administration continues to intensify its focus on immigration enforcement and border security.

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