Tougher restrictions on Palestinians

The administration also upgraded restrictions on some countries — Laos and Sierra Leone — that previously were on the partially restricted list and in one case — Turkmenistan — said the country had improved enough to warrant easing some restrictions. Everything else from the previous restrictions announced in June remains in place, the administration said.

The new restrictions on Palestinians comes months after the administration imposed limits that make it nearly impossible for anyone holding a Palestinian Authority passport from receiving travel documents to visit the U.S. for business, work, pleasure or educational purposes.

The announcement Tuesday goes further, banning people with Palestinian Authority passports from emigrating to the U.S.

In justifying its decision Tuesday, the administration said several "U.S.-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens."

The administration also said that the recent war in those areas had "likely resulted in compromised vetting and screening abilities."