Trump Admin Expands Muslim & African Ban, Putting 420K New Yorkers at Risk

New York, NY—The Trump administration issued a Proclamation that expands its prior travel ban to 39 countries and Palestine (Palestinian Authority travel document holders). The earlier travel ban, in June 2025, included 19 countries. As of January 1, 2026 seven countries and Palestine – Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and Palestine (Palestinian Authority travel document holders)– face bars on entering the United States for anyone who does not currently hold a valid U.S. visa. An additional 15 countries facing a partial ban: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The countries designated on the new travel ban list have a combined population of over a billion people – 1 in 8 people worldwide (13%). 

An estimated 420,000 New Yorkers come from the listed countries and stand to be impacted by the travel ban. This new proclamation from the Trump administration doubles the number of countries subject to the travel ban, discriminates against African and Muslim-majority countries, and doubles down on recent policy pronouncements that end most humanitarian protections for refugees and other immigrants.

“This discriminatory proclamation, the largest race- and religion-based ban on immigration in contemporary U.S. history, continues the Trump Administration’s unjust assault on immigrant communities. By expanding the Travel Ban, the administration is slamming the door on vulnerable people in a way that is certain to cause widespread harm, including prolonged family separation. Students will be denied from pursuing their education, workers will be blocked from contributing to the economy, and families will be forced to remain separated across borders. This racist policy sends the message that some lives are more valuable to America based on race, religion, or nationality. Rather than multiplying discriminatory bans and escalating anti-immigrant and anti-refugee politics, America should be investing in policies rooted in safety and dignity,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition. 

"The Afghan refugee and immigrant community has faced relentless attack from the Trump administration from day one. This latest escalation makes it clear to us that this new policy, which now bans any and all Afghans from seeking refuge and safety here in the United States, is rooted in xenophobia and Islamophobia. Afghans in the New York City area already have faced escalating immigration enforcement that has been targeting and detaining Afghans in the New York City area. Newly arrived Afghans, many of whom stood and served alongside American servicemen and diplomats, will be separated from their families and those left behind will pay the ultimate price: detention, torture or death. The Afghan community will continue to bear the consequences of America's broken promises and forever wars and we urge that vulnerable people from around the world are welcomed with dignity and offered protection,” said Arash Azizzada, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Afghans For a Better Tomorrow. 

“The Trump Administration's expanded travel ban advances his quest to shut down any pathway to citizenship for Black and Brown immigrants. This policy further isolates the United States and deprives our nation of the expertise, culture, and humanity that immigrants bring. We must continue to resist policies rooted in fear and fight for our families, our freedoms, and our future,” said Diana Konaté, Deputy Executive Director of Policy & Advocacy, African Communities Together.

"This expanded travel ban is cruel and discriminatory, and it will have real, harmful effects on immigrant families in our communities, including here in New York. By specifically targeting African and Muslim-majority countries, the administration is doubling down on systems that divide families and limit opportunities. At La Colmena, we see every day how policies like this create fear and instability for workers, students, and loved ones. Our communities deserve policies that protect dignity, safety, and belonging, not bans that punish people,” said Yesenia Mata, Executive Director, La Colmena. 

“Donald Trump’s expansion and of travel ban to include Assyrians, South Sudanese, is not about security; it is about exclusion. It is collective punishment that condemns entire peoples for circumstances beyond their control. This kind of discrimination erodes our shared humanity and betrays the values of justice, compassion, and dignity that the United States claims to stand for,” said Linda Sarsour, Executive Director, MPower Change. 

“This expanded travel ban is a discriminatory policy that treats entire nations as suspect and deepens the othering of Muslim, African, and immigrant communities. At Muslim Community Network, roughly 75% of our staff have family members who will be directly affected, and our clients and allies across New York will feel the harm through separation, delayed reunification, lost study and work opportunities, and anxiety for thousands of New Yorkers. New York’s future depends on people being able to move, learn, contribute, and live with their loved ones, not on blanket restrictions that punish families for their passports. We call on leaders at every level to reject this ban and invest in creating comprehensive immigration policies that are equitable, safe and dignified,” said Husein Yatabarry, Executive Director, Muslim Community Network. 

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.