The Trump Administration expanded its travel ban to include 20 additional countries, beyond the initial 19 countries it announced earlier this month would continue to be subject to a travel ban and pause on adjudication of their immigration benefit applications.
The updated entry restrictions were announced by Presidential Proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” issued on December 16, 2025, and effective January 1, 2026. The proclamation consists of the following tiered restrictions for countries the administration deems to lack sufficient screening and vetting systems:
- Full restriction on entry for nationals, including immigrants and nonimmigrants, of the following 19 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria. Individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) are also fully restricted from entering the U.S.
- Partial restriction and limits on entry for nationals, including immigrants and nonimmigrants with B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, of the following 20 countries: Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- The proclamation lifts limitations on the entry of nonimmigrants (i.e., temporary visa holders) from Turkmenistan but maintains the suspension of entry for immigrants from Turkmenistan.
The proclamation provides for limited exceptions to the entry restrictions, including:
- All lawful permanent residents of the United States;
- Dual nationals of one of the designated countries traveling on a passport issued by a country not designated as restricted;
- Foreign nationals traveling on nonimmigrant “diplomat” visas;
- Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
- Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees; and
- Immigrant visas for ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
The immigration attorneys at Ryan Swanson are available to assist foreign nationals and employers with navigating the new entry restrictions.
