Washington: The White House announced Tuesday evening that US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding and tightening restrictions on foreign nationals entering the country. The new order now includes 15 countries, most of which are in Africa, aiming to bolster national security through stringent, data-driven measures.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the new executive order maintains full restrictions on citizens from 12 original high-risk countries identified under Presidential Proclamation 10949, which includes nations such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Iran, among others. The United States has further imposed restrictions on five additional countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
The order also imposes partial restrictions on 15 other countries, including Angola, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, while maintaining existing partial restrictions on countries like Burundi and Venezuela. Notably, the order lifts the ban on non-immigrant visas from Turkmenistan due to improved cooperation, though immigration suspensions remain.
Exceptions to these restrictions include lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, and certain categories like athletes and diplomats. However, the order narrows exceptions for family-based immigrant visas due to fraud risks.
The White House emphasizes the necessity of these measures to prevent entry from individuals lacking adequate risk assessment information. The restrictions are applied individually to encourage cooperation and consider each country's specific issues, such as corruption and unreliable documentation.
The statement highlights that many affected countries face challenges like terrorism and extremism, which compromise their security screening abilities and pose risks to the United States. The decision follows the reinstatement of travel restrictions by Trump in June 2025, reflecting current global security assessments.
Countries like Burkina Faso and Mali, plagued by terrorism and conflict, are subject to full travel bans. Syria, still recovering from civil unrest, faces full restrictions due to inadequate document issuance and verification processes. The Palestinian Authority's documents are also restricted due to terrorist group activities in their regions.
These measures reflect the United States' ongoing efforts to address national security through comprehensive and targeted entry restrictions.