Trump widens US travel ban amid immigration crackdown, brings 39 countries under entry restrictions; Check list

The administration of Doland Trump has widened its travel ban to include more than 30 countries. This move is part of a tougher approach on immigration. It comes after an Afghan national was arrested in connection with the shooting of two National Guard soldiers during the Thanksgiving holiday. Earlier, in June, the president had announced that people from 12 countries would not be allowed to travel to the United States at all. Citizens from seven other countries were allowed to travel only under strict limits.

While announcing the expanded ban, the administration said many of the affected countries have serious problems. These include corruption, fake or unreliable identity papers, and poor criminal record systems. Because of this, U.S. authorities say it is hard to properly check who is coming into the country.

The administration also said that some of these countries have a high number of people who stay in the U.S. after their visas expire. Others do not take back their citizens when the U.S. wants to deport them. In some cases, weak governments and lack of control make it difficult for the U.S. to safely review travelers.

US travel ban: What the new order says

The new travel order explains which countries face travel bans or limits when coming to the United States, and what rules apply.

Countries with full travel bans (from the earlier list):
People from these 12 countries are still not allowed to enter the US:

• Afghanistan
• Burma
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

New countries added to the full ban:
After a fresh review, the US has added:

• Burkina Faso
• Mali
• Niger
• South Sudan
• Syria

People using travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are also fully restricted.

Countries moved from partial to full bans:
These two countries now face complete travel restrictions:

• Laos
• Sierra Leone

Countries that still face partial restrictions:
Some limits continue for people from:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Togo
• Venezuela

Ban lifted for one country:

• Turkmenistan is no longer banned from non-immigrant visas because it has worked more closely with the US.

New partial restrictions added for 15 countries:
Travel limits now apply to:

• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Benin
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Dominica
• Gabon
• The Gambia
• Malawi
• Mauritania
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Who is not affected by the ban:
The order makes exceptions for:

• US green card holders
• People who already have valid visas
• Certain groups like athletes and diplomats
• Individuals whose entry is important for US national interests

Family visas:
The order tightens some family-based visa rules where fraud is seen as a risk. However, officials can still allow entry on a case-by-case basis.