Nigeria, Syria, Others Included In The New U.S. Travel Ban

In a major escalation of border security policy, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, a significant expansion of travel restrictions affecting 24 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority.

Citing “severe deficiencies in screening and vetting,” the administration has now brought the total number of nations under U.S. travel restrictions to 39.

The new proclamation, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, follows a period of heightened tension after the November shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C.

The Latest Report

According to the White House, the decision was taken to prevent the entry of foreign nationals “about whom the United States lacks sufficient reliable information.”

Officials said many of the affected countries still lack effective central authorities for issuing passports or maintain civil documentation systems that are considered unreliable for proper vetting.

The latest expansion was driven by recent security incidents and intelligence assessments. In late November, a 29-year-old Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington, D.C.

The suspect had reportedly been granted asylum earlier in the year, prompting a comprehensive review of immigration statuses linked to several countries described as “countries of concern.”

In addition, renewed attacks in Syria played a key role in the policy shift. The killing of two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter by ISIS-linked militants, despite ongoing diplomatic outreach to Syria’s new leadership, accelerated Syria’s placement under the strictest category of the ban.

U.S. officials also pointed to high visa overstay rates, terrorism-related activity, and weak information-sharing frameworks as major factors behind the inclusion of several countries, including Nigeria.

The government said a 60-day window granted in August 2025 for affected countries to improve vetting and security cooperation had expired without sufficient progress.

List of New Countries and Restriction Levels

The proclamation groups the newly added jurisdictions into two main categories: Full Suspension and Partial Suspension.

Full Suspension (7 Countries and the Palestinian Authority)

These jurisdictions face a near-total ban on the entry of most immigrants and non-immigrants into the United States.

Africa: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan

Asia: Laos, Syria

Middle East: Individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents

Partial Suspension (16 Countries)
These countries face restrictions on specific visa categories, mainly tourist, business, student, and exchange visas (B-1, B-2, F, M, and J).

The measures are largely tied to security assessments and visa overstay data.

Africa: Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Caribbean and Oceania: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Tonga

Asia: Turkmenistan (restrictions apply to immigrant visas only, as non-immigrant bans were lifted following what the U.S. described as “significant progress”)

Nigeria’s inclusion was linked to ongoing security challenges posed by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates, as well as concerns over visa compliance.

Exceptions and Reactions

Despite the broad scope of the restrictions, the proclamation outlines limited exemptions. •Lawful Permanent Residents
•Accredited diplomats
•Professional athletes and their support staff on a case-by-case basis
•Individuals holding valid U.S. visas issued before the ban takes effect may still be allowed entry.

Critics of the policy argue that the sweeping nature of the ban could disrupt international engagements, hinder educational and business exchanges, and separate families.

However, U.S. officials have defended the move as a “common sense” response to unresolved security gaps.

The December expansion follows an earlier travel ban introduced in June 2025, which initially covered 12 countries.

The latest decision signals a broader and more aggressive approach, with a strong focus on African and Muslim-majority nations, as the administration prioritises border security and immigration control.