US Travel Ban Expands: 5 New Nations Barred, Affecting 5% of World Population

• The Trump administration expanded its travel ban on December 16, adding five more nations to the full entry ban list.
• Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria are new additions to the full ban, alongside individuals with Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
• The expansion brings the total countries under full or partial restrictions to over 30, affecting nearly 5% of the world's population.
• The White House cited "persistent and severe deficiencies" in screening and information-sharing, linking it to a Thanksgiving week shooting incident.
• Critics condemn the move as "collective punishment"; legal challenges are expected despite previous Supreme Court upholding.

Why It Matters: Trump's expanded travel ban now covers over 30 nations, impacting 5% of the world, sparking criticism.