CaliToday (17/12/2025): In a sweeping move that has reignited fierce debates over national security and civil liberties, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, significantly expanding his administration’s travel restrictions. The new order now targets approximately 30 nations, introducing total bans on several countries and placing new limits on the Palestinian territories.
The New "Red List"
The proclamation adds "total restrictions and entry limits" for individuals attempting to travel to the United States from:
Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
Palestine: Specifically targeting those carrying travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Furthermore, the administration imposed partial entry limits on 15 nations not previously on the restricted list, including Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, and Zimbabwe. Restrictions were also tightened on Laos and Sierra Leone, which previously faced only minor hurdles.
Security vs. Human Rights
The White House justifies the expansion as a vital step for national security, arguing these nations have failed to meet U.S. standards for information sharing and identity management. "The administration is once again using the guise of security to justify wholesale exclusion," countered Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge. "This affects families, students, and those fleeing violence many with long-standing ties to the U.S."
Naval Strikes in the Caribbean: A "Waste of Resources"?
While the travel ban dominated headlines, a classified briefing on Capitol Hill sparked a different kind of firestorm. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) emerged from a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming the administration’s lethal strikes on suspected "drug-terrorist" vessels lack legal standing.
The Fentanyl Discrepancy: Murphy alleged that officials admitted the intercepted vessels were carrying cocaine, not fentanyl, and were destined for Europe rather than the U.S.
Legal Authority: The administration claims authority because they designated the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist group. However, critics argue this only allows for sanctions, not unilateral military strikes—which have killed at least 95 people since September.
Cultural and Political Fallout
The White House Ballroom Dispute
A federal judge signaled on Tuesday that he is unlikely to block President Trump’s controversial $300 million White House ballroom project. Despite lawsuits from preservation groups claiming the 90,000-square-foot structure ignores historic preservation laws, Judge Richard Leon noted that significant ground-level changes won't begin until January, providing no "irreparable harm" for an immediate stay.
WWE Legend Mick Foley Cuts Ties
The political climate has also reached the world of professional wrestling. WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley announced he is severing all ties with the company. Foley cited the administration's "inhumane" treatment of immigrants and Trump’s "cruel" comments regarding the recent death of director Rob Reiner as the "final straw."
"I no longer wish to represent a company that pampers a man who seems to be completely devoid of compassion," Foley posted on Instagram.
The Mar-a-Lago Investigation: New FBI Disclosures
Newly released internal emails published by Senator Chuck Grassley suggest that the FBI was initially hesitant to raid Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The documents reveal that the FBI's Washington Field Office (WFO) believed they had not established sufficient probable cause and preferred working through Trump's attorneys. This disclosure adds a new layer to the ongoing debate over the "Special Counsel" investigations led by Jack Smith.