US travel ban expansion has taken a major step as former President Donald Trump widened restrictions to 39 countries. The move nearly doubles the number of nations facing limits on entry into the United States.
The Trump administration added five more countries and also included holders of travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority under a full travel ban. Fifteen additional countries now face partial entry restrictions. The decision is part of a broader push to tighten US travel and immigration standards.
Earlier in June, Trump had announced a complete ban on citizens from 12 countries, along with partial restrictions on seven others. Existing visa holders, lawful permanent residents, diplomats and athletes remain exempt. Officials have not clarified when the latest restrictions will take effect.
The administration said many listed countries suffer from widespread corruption, document fraud and unreliable civil records. These issues, it argued, make proper security screening difficult and raise risks for US national security.
Countries under the continued full ban include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, among others. New full bans apply to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. Laos and Sierra Leone now face stricter limits.
Partial restrictions were added for 15 nations, including Nigeria, Angola and Tanzania. Restrictions on Turkmenistan were lifted, citing improved cooperation with US authorities.
