Story by Bahari Duniya | Written by Ranjan Sharma
Travel Restrictions Expanded: 39 Countries Now Banned or Partially Restricted by US Starting Jan 1
The United States has broadened its travel ban to include citizens from seven additional countries, effective January 1. President Donald Trump signed the proclamation on December 16, 2025, restricting entry for nationals of 39 countries in total. The order also limits travel for individuals using documents issued by the Palestinian Authority, with the administration citing security and immigration enforcement concerns behind the expanded restrictions.
Taking effect January 1, 2026, the proclamation expands the June 4, 2025 order, which barred certain foreign nationals from 19 countries, significantly widening the scope of US travel restrictions.
The administration pointed to two provisions of US immigration law as the legal basis for the action. These include INA Section 212(f), which authorizes the President to halt the entry of foreign nationals viewed as harmful to national interests, and INA Section 215(a), which permits the President to impose rules, restrictions, or exemptions on travel into or out of the United States.
Beginning January 1, the United States will enforce new travel rules, partially restricting entry for citizens of 39 countries worldwide.
Who Is Excluded
The order does not apply to individuals already granted asylum or refugee status in the United States, and it preserves existing rights to seek asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under international anti-torture agreements.
It also exempts lawful permanent residents and dual citizens traveling with passports from non-listed countries. Unlike the earlier June order, the new proclamation removes blanket exemptions for close relatives of U.S. citizens, adoption cases, and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders.
Partial Entry Suspension
The December proclamation broadens the scope of earlier measures by expanding the partial entry suspension from seven countries to a total of twenty. Nationals from countries including Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, among others, will face limited travel restrictions, reflecting a significant widening of the June policy’s reach while stopping short of a complete ban.
Termination Timeline
The proclamation does not specify an end date. Instead, it directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with relevant agencies, to submit reviews every 180 days assessing whether the travel restrictions should remain in place, be adjusted, expanded, or lifted altogether.