Trump adds seven countries, including Syria, to full travel ban list

US President Donald Trump has expanded the United States’ full travel ban, adding seven more countries — including Syria — to the list of nations whose citizens are barred from entering the country.

The White House said on Tuesday that Trump signed a proclamation 'expanding and strengthening entry restrictions' on nationals from countries judged to have persistent shortcomings in security screening, vetting procedures and information-sharing, which Washington says pose national security and public safety risks.
Under the new measure, citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria are now subject to a complete ban, along with individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, which had previously faced partial restrictions, have also been moved to the full ban category. The expanded restrictions are set to take effect on January 1, according to the White House.
US officials said the decision was based on a range of factors, including high visa overstay rates, limited cooperation on identity verification, and concerns about terrorist activity and regional instability. Syria was specifically cited for elevated overstay levels and security risks linked to ongoing militant threats.
The move comes despite Trump’s recent public support for Syria’s new leadership following landmark talks in November with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who emerged as the country’s leader after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Trump had said he wanted to see Syria stabilise and re-engage with the international community after years of conflict and isolation.
Sharaa, once sanctioned by Washington, has sought to present himself as a pragmatic leader aiming to reunify the war-battered country, rebuild state institutions and restore diplomatic ties. His international outreach over the past year marked a dramatic shift in Syria’s political landscape.
However, Trump struck a sharply different tone days later after a deadly attack in Syria that killed two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The US military said the convoy of American and Syrian forces was targeted by a suspected Islamic State militant, who was later shot dead. Trump described the incident as a 'terrible' attack and warned of 'very serious retaliation' in a post on his Truth Social platform.
The expanded travel ban revives elements of Trump’s earlier hardline immigration and national security policies, reinforcing a broader effort to tighten border controls and restrict entry from countries deemed high-risk, even as US diplomacy in parts of the Middle East continues to evolve.