US Expands Travel Ban, Adds 20 Countries Including Syria And Palestine

The new rules limit who can travel to or permanently settle in the United States. They apply to both short-term visitors and people seeking immigration.

US President Donald Trump issued a new proclamation widening America’s travel restrictions by including 20 additional countries.

Who Is Affected

The new rules limit who can travel to or permanently settle in the United States. They apply to both short-term visitors and people seeking immigration.

Countries Under Full Travel Ban

Under the latest proclamation, five countries are now under a complete travel ban. Citizens from 15 other countries face partial restrictions. The US has also fully barred travel by people using travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Why The US Took This Step

The White House said the move is aimed at tightening US entry rules. Officials linked the decision to national security concerns. They referred to the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Who Is Exempt From The Ban

Several exemptions have been included in the restrictions. People who already hold valid US visas are not affected. Lawful permanent residents are also exempt. Diplomats, athletes, and certain other visa holders can still enter the US. Entry may also be allowed in cases that serve US national interests. The administration has not announced when the new rules will come into force.

Background Of The Travel Ban

Trump first announced travel restrictions in June. At that time, citizens of 12 countries were completely barred from entering the US, while people from seven other countries faced partial limits. The move brought back a key policy from Trump’s first term as president.

Countries Covered In The June Ban

The June ban applied to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions were placed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

New Countries Added To Full Ban List

On Tuesday, the administration added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the full ban list. Travel by holders of Palestinian Authority-issued documents was also fully restricted. South Sudan had already been under strict limits earlier.

Countries Added To Partial Restriction List

Another 15 countries were added to the partial restriction list. These include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The restrictions apply to both visitors and immigrants. They affect people seeking short-term visits as well as those applying for permanent residence.

Reasons For The Ban

In the proclamation, Trump said many of the affected countries have problems such as corruption, unreliable identity documents, and weak criminal record systems. He said these issues make it difficult for US authorities to properly screen travelers.

Officials also pointed to high visa overstay rates. They said some governments do not cooperate in taking back citizens ordered to be deported from the US.

The administration also cited political instability and weak government control in some countries. Concerns related to immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and national security were listed as reasons for the expanded travel ban.

Changes To Earlier Restrictions

Some earlier restrictions were also changed. Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial limits to full bans. Turkmenistan, however, saw some easing of restrictions after the US said the country had made improvements. All other rules announced in June remain unchanged.

Impact On Palestinians

The new measures against Palestinians go beyond earlier steps. In recent months, it had already become very difficult for holders of Palestinian Authority passports to get US travel documents for work, education, business, or tourism. The latest decision now blocks them from immigrating to the United States.

According to the proclamation, several US-designated terrorist groups operate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and have killed American citizens in the past. It said the ongoing conflict has weakened screening and verification systems in those areas.

Travel bans were a major issue during Trump’s first term and led to protests and court challenges. While courts later upheld revised versions, critics say the policy unfairly targets people based on nationality. Supporters argue that it is necessary to protect US national security.

(With IANS Inputs)