Targeted by Nationality: Trump on Arabs and the U.S. Travel Ban

posted on: Dec 24, 2025

By: Nourelhoda Alashlem / Arab America Contributing Writer

For thousands of Arab families, a passport now determines whether they can reunite, attend school, or seek refuge. In December 2025, the United States expanded its travel ban by adding Syria and Palestinian Authority passport holders. The change brought the total number of Arab countries under a full travel ban to six and heightened concerns that the policy treats nationality as a security risk.

The Travel Ban Expands Once Again

In a statement, the White House said President Donald Trump expanded the travel ban “to protect the security of the United States,” confirming a full ban on entry for citizens of Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and South Sudan. The administration said the move was part of a broader effort to strengthen border controls and prevent the entry of individuals deemed a potential threat.

The executive order also imposed partial travel restrictions on several additional countries, citing failures in screening, vetting, and information sharing.

How the Administration Justifies the Policy

The White House said the restrictions apply to countries with “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing.” Officials argued that the policy is necessary to prevent individuals who could pose national security or public safety risks from entering the United States.

Supporters of the ban argue that immigration control is a sovereign right requiring preemptive action, while critics say the policy relies on broad assumptions instead of individualized assessments.

What the Expansion Means for Palestinians

The expansion of the travel ban impacts Palestinians particularly severely, as the executive order fails to recognize Palestine as a state. Instead, it imposes travel restrictions on individuals using “Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents.” This choice of language, although consistent with long-standing U.S. policy, carries immediate and deeply personal consequences for those affected.

Palestinians seeking to reunite with family, attend universities, or receive medical care are now barred, regardless of individual background. The ban further restricts mobility for a population that already faces severe limitations on movement.

Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib condemned the decision, saying the administration was expanding “their travel ban to include even more African and Muslim-majority countries, even Palestinians fleeing a genocide.”

Syrians Added Amid Shifting Relations

The recent addition of Syria to the travel ban has sparked debate amid evolving diplomatic ties between Washington and Damascus. Despite gestures toward easing sanctions and cooperation, Syrians now face a full travel ban.

The White House cited visa overstay rates for Syria in its justification for the ban.

“Syria is emerging from a protracted period of civil unrest and internal strife. While the country is working to address its security challenges in close coordination with the United States, Syria still lacks an adequate central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures,” the White House said.

For Syrians who have waited years for legal visas, the decision represents another setback in lives already shaped by war and displacement. Many of the affected Syrians include students, professionals, and immediate family members of U.S. residents whose applications were already in progress.

The Impact on Families and Communities

Beyond official statements, the most significant impact of the travel ban is being felt by families. Which meant that parents will miss out on weddings and funerals. Children grow up separated from their grandparents. Students lose scholarships and academic opportunities despite years of preparation.

Humanitarian organizations have warned against blanket restrictions. Global Refuge, a faith-based refugee organization, said the policy uses “the language of security to justify blanket exclusions that punish entire populations, rather than utilizing individualized, evidence-based screening.”

For Arab Americans, the ban revives familiar fears of being viewed through the lens of foreign conflict rather than as members of American society.

Questions About Belonging and the Future

The expanded restrictions will take effect in early 2026 and reshape families and communities across borders. The travel ban debate goes beyond immigration enforcement and forces American society to confront how it defines belonging for Arabs.

When nationality becomes a measure of risk, policies meant to protect borders risk reshaping national identity itself. For those affected, denying entry based on nationality raises doubts about whether the policy actually improves security.

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