TRUMP EXPANDS US TRAVEL BAN TO FIVE MORE COUNTRIES

US President Donald Trump.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief of The Azanian

US President Donald Trump has expanded a travel ban, barring nationals from five additional countries and people traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the US.

The restrictions, effective January 1, aim to "protect the security of the United States".

The countries affected by the full-entry restrictions are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders. Laos and Sierra Leone have been moved from partial to full restrictions, while 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, face partial restrictions.

Trump cited failures in screening and vetting systems overseas, high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil records, corruption, and terrorist activity as reasons for the ban. The announcement follows the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard troops.

This is Trump's third travel ban, with previous iterations sparking protests and legal challenges. The White House says restrictions will remain until affected countries show "credible improvements" in identity management and cooperation with US immigration authorities.

Exceptions apply for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, and athletes traveling for major sporting events. Case-by-case waivers are available for travel deemed in the national interest.