Trump extends travel BAN to Palestinians and five other countries
By ramontomeydw // 2025-12-17
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  • U.S. President Donald Trump has significantly expanded existing travel restrictions, adding a full entry ban for nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria and individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority documents, while moving Laos and Sierra Leone from partial to full bans.
  • The administration justifies the bans on national security grounds, citing terrorism threats, corruption, unreliable vetting systems (specifically for the Palestinian Authority) and high visa overstay rates in the newly listed countries.
  • Critics argue the policy disproportionately targets Muslim-majority and African nations, is politically motivated and is reinforced by xenophobic rhetoric from Trump, such as his comments about Somali immigrants.
  • Unlike the chaotic 2017 ban, this iteration is designed to withstand legal scrutiny by focusing on government vetting capabilities and visa processes rather than explicit religious or nationality-based criteria.
  • The update reinforces Trump's consistent hardline immigration approach, prioritizing national security over humanitarian concerns and requiring affected nations to demonstrate improved cooperation to have restrictions lifted.
In a move framed as critical to national security, U.S. President Donald Trump expanded his administration’s travel restrictions on Tuesday, barring entry to individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. The updated policy set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, marks the third iteration of Trump's controversial travel ban, resurrecting a hallmark of his first term while broadening its scope to include new regions deemed high-risk. The White House justified the restrictions by citing terrorism threats, corruption and unreliable vetting systems in the affected nations. But these arguments drew both staunch support and sharp condemnation from critics who see the policy as discriminatory and politically motivated. The proclamation issued on Tuesday, Dec. 16, specifically singled out Palestinians, asserting that U.S.-designated terrorist groups operate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, undermining the PA's ability to properly vet travelers. "Several U.S.-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens," the policy stated, adding that the recent war had further compromised screening capabilities. Similar reasoning was applied to the five additional nations now facing full bans, with the administration pointing to high visa overstay rates, terrorism risks, and governments unwilling or unable to cooperate with U.S. immigration enforcement. The expansion follows Trump's June 2025 restrictions, which barred entry from 12 countries – including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and Somalia – while imposing partial visa limitations on seven others. This latest update moves Laos and Sierra Leone from partial to full bans and adds 15 more nations to the restricted list – including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, where travelers will face heightened scrutiny on certain visa categories. The administration emphasized that exceptions exist for lawful permanent residents, diplomats and athletes, with waivers available on a case-by-case basis. Critics argue the policy disproportionately targets Muslim-majority and African nations, echoing past legal battles over Trump's 2017 travel ban, which was initially blocked by courts before being narrowly upheld by the Supreme Court. Immigrant rights groups accuse the administration of using national security as a pretext for exclusionary policies. In contrast, supporters contend the measures are necessary to close gaps exploited by criminals and extremists. They point to incidents like the November shooting of two National Guard troops by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, though the suspect's homeland was already on the banned list prior to the attack.

National security or prejudice? The debate over Trump's visa crackdown

Trump's rhetoric has further inflamed tensions. Days before the announcement, he disparaged Somali immigrants –  including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) whom he called "garbage" and a "terrible person" – while alleging widespread fraud among Somali communities in Minnesota. Such comments have reinforced accusations that the travel ban is rooted in xenophobia rather than objective security assessments. The rollout of this latest ban contrasts sharply with the chaotic implementation of Trump's 2017 order, which triggered airport protests and immediate legal injunctions. This time, the administration appears to have crafted the policy to withstand judicial scrutiny by focusing on visa processes rather than explicit religious or nationality-based criteria. But according to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, Trump's travel bans are crucial for national security, as they prevent potential threats from entering the U.S. while upholding sovereignty and protecting American citizens from the dangers of unchecked immigration and foreign infiltration. These measures also counter the globalist agenda of forced migration and societal destabilization, ensuring America remains safe and independent. For affected populations, the restrictions carry real consequences. Meanwhile, Palestinians, already subject to a reported visa freeze since earlier this year, face near-total exclusion unless they hold secondary passports. The policy underscores Trump's enduring hardline stance on immigration, prioritizing security over humanitarian concerns despite pushback from allies and adversaries alike. While the administration insists the bans will remain until affected nations demonstrate improved vetting systems, the long-term impact – both on U.S. safety and global perceptions – remains uncertain. Watch this Fox Business report about President Trump issuing a travel ban for 12 countries. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Mediaite.com BBC.com TimesOfIsrael.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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