In response to a rising tide of global terror attacks, President Donald Trump has expanded his administration’s travel ban to include five additional countries and, for the first time, individuals traveling under documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
The latest expansion adds Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the list of nations with heightened entry restrictions. It comes on top of an already extensive list that includes Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and others. Heightened restrictions were also put in place earlier this year for countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan.
The new measures come just days after a string of brutal attacks—including the ISIS-inspired Hanukkah beach shooting in Sydney and the murder of U.S. troops in Syria—reignited concerns about America’s national security and the consequences of lax immigration policies.
Ban Now Includes Palestinian Authority Documents
The move to block entry to those carrying documentation from the Palestinian Authority marks a significant shift, reflecting growing security concerns about the influence of radical factions operating in Palestinian territories.
According to the presidential proclamation, the United States “must exercise extreme vigilance” and prevent the admission of foreign nationals who may intend to harm Americans or undermine American institutions.
“The United States Government must ensure that admitted aliens do not intend to threaten its citizens; undermine or destabilize its culture, government, institutions, or founding principles; or advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists or other threats to our national security,” the order reads.
Recent Attacks Reinforce Urgency
The new policy was prompted in part by a series of high-profile attacks that shook Western nations and highlighted the risks of importing foreign conflict.
Last week, 15 people were murdered on a beach in Sydney during a Hanukkah celebration after an ISIS-inspired father and son opened fire on the Jewish gathering. It was one of the deadliest terror attacks in Australian history and has since been linked to overseas radical networks.
Meanwhile, in Syria, two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in a separate ISIS ambush — renewing calls for the U.S. to tighten both border security and visa screenings for individuals from war-torn regions.
And in Washington, D.C., an Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal — who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Joe Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome program — allegedly opened fire on two National Guard soldiers as they were conducting public safety operations.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old from the West Virginia National Guard, later died from her injuries. Her fellow guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized. The shooter was arrested and is now facing multiple federal charges.
A Shift Toward Security First
Critics of the Trump administration’s travel bans have long called them discriminatory, but supporters argue they are based on hard data and national security threats—not politics or prejudice. With the most recent round of attacks targeting American troops, Jewish communities, and public servants, the administration is doubling down on its commitment to prioritize security.
White House officials emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State continue to assess foreign governments’ cooperation with U.S. vetting standards and that the bans reflect which countries pose unacceptable risks to national safety.
As terror threats rise again across the globe, President Trump is making it clear: the United States will not wait for tragedy to strike before acting. His administration’s message is unambiguous—if your country harbors or enables extremists, you’re not sending anyone here.
The post Trump Expands Travel Ban to Include Palestinians and Others After Wave of Global Terror Attacks appeared first on Real News Now.
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