A Guide to Trump’s Travel Ban and Visa Pause, by Country

The Trump administration announced in January 2026 that it was indefinitely freezing visa processing for nationals of seventy-five countries, one in a series of immigration restrictions rolled out since President Donald Trump’s return to office. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the visa pause was aimed at people who were likely to be a “public charge”—a term for someone reliant on public benefits for basic needs. A federal court struck down the visa pause in August. That same month, the administration temporarily paused the processing of immigrant visa appointments worldwide for consular officer training, though the pause is not expected to last beyond early to-mid-September.

The January pause on immigrant visa issuances followed the administration’s declaration in December 2025 that it was expanding its June 2025 travel ban by adding twenty additional countries and individuals using Palestinian Authority (PA) travel documents. In total, thirty-nine countries are subject to a full travel ban or partial travel restrictions.

Trump returned to office with a pledge to enact a sweeping crackdown on both legal and unauthorized immigration to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security said in December 2025 that it was “shattering records,” with more than 605,000 deportations and 1.9 million self-deportations since Trump took office. 

Is the travel ban still in effect?

The Trump administration’s broader travel ban, which fully or partially restricts entry for nationals from thirty-nine countries and holders of PA-issued documents, remains in effect.

However, in August 2026, a federal judge struck down the administration’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of seventy-five countries, ruling it violated federal immigration law by discriminating on the basis of nationality and exceeded the secretary of state’s authority. The State Department’s website noted that the pause on visa issuances was “no longer in effect.”

The administration has justified its travel restrictions and bans as necessary to protect the United States from national security and public health threats; the December 2025 expansion came after an Afghan immigrant was charged with shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC, in November. Trump said in June 2025 that some affected countries had “deficient” screening and vetting processes that could pose national security risks or lead to visa overstays, and he also singled out countries that refused to accept U.S. deportees. Many countries affected by the visa pause and travel ban have tense relationships with the United States, and several face internal turmoil, whether civil war or repressive rule.

Rights groups and the UN refugee agency have condemned the deportations, travel bans, and other travel restrictions that have affected green card applications, visa petitioning, and citizenship oath ceremonies. They have argued that foreign nationals have a right to due process and asylum under U.S. and international law.

December 2025 travel ban expansion: countries and populations affected

Burkina Faso

Prior to the ban, the State Department had already placed a Level 4 travel advisory on Burkina Faso, citing the rate of “terrorism, crime, and kidnapping” in the country. Burkina Faso’s relationship with the United States deteriorated after two military coups in 2022, which led to a weakened government and an uptick in violence and terrorism. The White House also argues that the country has “historically refused to accept back its removable nationals” and references its visa overstay rate.

The United States granted 3,868 visas to travelers from Burkina Faso between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Laos

Laos was originally on the partial travel ban list, but was added to the full ban in December 2025. The White House noted Laos’s high rate of immigrant overstays and its failure to take back its deported nationals in its rationale for adding the country to the travel ban list. Since the normalization of bilateral relations in 1992, the two countries have enjoyed a relatively stable relationship. Although Laos has seen increased civil unrest due to economic challenges, the ban contrasts with decades of engagement that has been focused on reconciliation and humanitarian cooperation. 

The United States granted 2,557 visas to travelers from Laos between May 2024 and April 2025.

Mali

The U.S. government cites crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and health as reasons to restrict entry for people from Mali. It also reported armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups. Mali has experienced three military coups since 2012; the nominal government is led by a military junta and insurgent groups control large regions of the country. In October 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Mali warned U.S. citizens to leave the country because of a fuel blockade enforced by militants.

The United States granted 3,691 visas to travelers from Mali between May 2024 and April 2025.

Niger

The 2023 military coup and resulting junta rule led to a breakdown in relations between Niger and its Western partners. Niger was once a close security partner in Africa until the military uprising. The White House said it implemented the travel ban with Niger on account of its increasing instability and extremist violence, as well as its alignment with Burkina Faso and Mali. 

The United States granted 1,377 visas to travelers from Niger between May 2024 and April 2025.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is another country that the White House moved from the partial to the full travel ban list, noting it had high visa overstay rates. The Trump administration also said that Freetown had been unwilling to take back its deported nationals. While Sierra Leone has not been a major U.S. strategic or military partner, it has generally been viewed in Washington as a cooperative state with a pro-Western orientation. The U.S. State Department noted some instances of localized violent crime and occasions of civil unrest, but security issues have not historically been a major issue. 

The United States granted 3,731 visas to travelers from Sierra Leone between May 2024 and April 2025.

South Sudan

Clashes between ethnic and political groups continue in South Sudan, which never fully recovered from its civil war (2013–2018). The U.S. government travel advisory cited unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, and health threats in the country. In April 2025, the United States revoked all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and ceased issuing new ones after the South Sudanese government failed to cooperate in accepting deportees from the United States. In July 2025, South Sudan became the first African country to accept third-country deportees from the United States.

The United States granted 696 visas to travelers from South Sudan between May 2024 and April 2025.

Syria

While the Trump administration has started normalizing relations with the new Syrian government, the decision to subject Syria to a travel ban was because the country still lacks proper vetting and documentation processes. Despite the progress made since the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in December 2024, the White House notes that Syria faces a fragmented security environment that remains dangerous; two U.S. soldiers were killed near Palmyra, Syria, in December 2025. However, under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the central government now controls the majority of the country. 

The United States granted 7,889 visas to travelers from Syria between May 2024 and April 2025.

Palestinian Authority Travel Documents

The White House’s decision to restrict entry for individuals carrying travel documents issued by the PA reflects the insecurity caused by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Trump administration cited the Israel-Hamas war and the presence of U.S.-designated terrorist groups operating in the West Bank or Gaza Strip in its rationale. Given these security concerns and its claim that the war has undermined vetting processes, the White House says “PA-issued or endorsed travel documents cannot currently be properly vetted and approved for entry into the United States.”

The United States granted 12,512 visas to travelers carrying Palestinian Authority Travel Documents between May 2024 and April 2025.

June 2025 travel ban: The nineteen countries affected

Afghanistan

Afghanistan has experienced severe human rights crackdowns since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the group’s oppressive rule. Human rights watchdogs have documented arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, media censorship, and torture. The United States does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official government.

The United States granted 37,164 visas to travelers from Afghanistan between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Chad

Bilateral relations between Chad and the United States have frayed since the country and other Sahel states rejected Western troops and partnerships in the region. Chad also has one of the highest rates of visa overstays on the list, at nearly 50 percent. Chad’s leader has continued a three-decade-long family authoritarian dynasty, while violence and climate change-related issues have exacerbated hunger and displacement in the country. 

The United States granted 15,206 visas to travelers from Chad between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Republic of Congo

The Republic of Congo has been accused by the United States of high visa overstays, though other countries absent from the list have higher overstay rates. Meanwhile, Trump has called out “the Congo”—which is commonly used to refer to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s poorest, most conflict-affected nations—for allegedly releasing prisoners to the United States. 

The United States granted 2,163 visas to travelers from the Republic of Congo between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Equatorial Guinea

Trump’s proclamation targets the Central African country of Equatorial Guinea for its high rates of visa overstays, though this rate is also lower than other countries not included in the ban. The country is grappling with a string of human rights concerns and is ranked one of the least-free countries in the world, according to watchdog Freedom House. 

The United States granted 754 visas to travelers from Equatorial Guinea between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Eritrea

The East African country is accused of failing to make criminal records of its nationals available, refusing to accept U.S. deportees, and having high visa overstay rates. Eritrea has been a one-party state under highly repressive, unelected rule since its independence in 1993. In 2023, the United States accused Eritrea of committing war crimes during the deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia. 

The United States granted 2,723 visas to travelers from Eritrea between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Myanmar

Myanmar—referred to as Burma in Trump’s proclamation and by the U.S. State Department—has been ruled by a military junta since a violent and ongoing civil war broke out in 2021. More than one hundred thousand people have been killed and five million more have been displaced by the conflict. The country plunged deeper into crisis when a devastating earthquake in March 2025 resulted in thousands of civilian fatalities.

The United States granted 15,206 visas to travelers from Myanmar between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Haiti

Gang violence has had an iron grip on Haiti for several years, with an estimated 90 percent of the capital controlled by gangs and more than a million Haitians internally displaced. The United Nations backed a multinational security mission to the small Caribbean island, but so far, the violence has been difficult to contain. Climate change and natural disasters have further weakened the country’s stability. In July 2026, temporary protected status for Haiti was formally terminated following a Supreme Court decision; the ruling affected hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the United States.  

The United States granted 13,051 visas to travelers from Haiti between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Iran

Iran is one of the United States’ staunch geopolitical adversaries, and Trump’s proclamation declares the country a state sponsor of terrorism. Iran’s addition to the list comes as the United States is enmeshed in a tense diplomatic back-and-forth over Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities. The country is not considered a safe place for many civilians, with the United Nations recording a surge in the use of the death penalty in recent years and concerns over rights to free expression and basic needs.

The United States granted 23,154 visas to travelers from Iran between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Libya

Libya is on the list for its “historic terrorist presence,” which poses a national security threat to U.S. nationals, according to the White House. Washington also accused Tripoli of failing to properly issue passports and civil documents to its citizens. Meanwhile, the United Nations accused the country’s government of committing crimes against humanity. Libya’s history of authoritarian rule and civil conflict has also prompted a migration challenge. 

The United States granted 4,030 visas to travelers from Libya between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Somalia

The White House described Somalia as a “terrorist safe haven” led by a dysfunctional government that “lacks command and control of its territory.” The al-Shabaab insurgency group has unleashed havoc on the country, with fatalities in 2024 doubling that of 2020 despite government attempts to counter the attacks. The country also faces severe food insecurity, with hunger levels that watchdogs consider “alarming.”

Trump brought additional attention to Somali populations in the United States after the November 2025 shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, despite admitting there was no connection. The president has claimed that citizens from the country are “completely taking over” Minnesota, where a large number of Somali refugees have settled. In August 2026, his administration ended temporary protected status for Somali nationals.

The United States granted 3,196 visas to travelers from Somalia between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Sudan

Submerged in one of the bloodiest wars in the world, Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with more than thirty-three million people (more than two-thirds of the population) in need of humanitarian assistance. Millions of Sudanese have been displaced into neighboring countries. The United States has attempted to broker a ceasefire numerous times since the war’s 2023 onset, with no success.

The United States granted 8,427 visas to travelers from Sudan between May 2024 and April 2025. 

Yemen

Trump’s proclamation noted that Yemen has been the site of “active U.S. military operations” after Washington carried out persistent strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in 2025. The Houthis control large swaths of northern and western Yemen and have repeatedly targeted shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the country is tangled up in its own complex, decade-plus-long civil war, leaving more than twenty-one million people in need of aid.

The United States granted 14,677 visas to travelers from Yemen between May 2024 and April 2025.

Austin Steinhart made the graphics for this article.