Washington, Dec. 16, 2025 – President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a Proclamation further tightening entry restrictions for nationals from countries deemed high-risk due to “persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that pose threats to U.S. national security and public safety. Among the fifteen new countries affected is Nigeria, which had earlier, on October 31, been declared a ‘country of particular concern’ amid allegations of a Christian genocide.
The White House, in a fact sheet titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”, emphasized that the move is aimed at “strengthening national security through common-sense restrictions based on data.” The Proclamation maintains full restrictions on nationals from twelve original high-risk countries under Proclamation 10949 – Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen – and adds full restrictions on five additional nations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. Nationals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents are also fully restricted.
Meanwhile, Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, now face full entry limitations. Partial restrictions remain for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela. The Proclamation further adds partial restrictions on 15 more countries, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The White House stressed that exceptions exist for lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, certain visa categories such as athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests. Family-based immigrant visa carve-outs with “demonstrated fraud risks” have been narrowed, though case-by-case waivers remain possible.
In explaining the rationale, the fact sheet noted that the Proclamation is necessary “to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose, garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives.” Trump himself is quoted, saying, “It is the President’s duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people.”
The restrictions are tailored to each country’s circumstances, citing systemic challenges such as “widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents, nonexistent birth-registration systems, and refusal to share law-enforcement data or passport exemplars.” Other concerns include Citizenship-by-Investment schemes, high visa-overstay rates, and terrorist, criminal, or extremist activity in affected countries.
The White House framed the Proclamation as part of Trump’s ongoing agenda to secure U.S. borders, noting that the Supreme Court has previously upheld the legality of similar restrictions as a legitimate exercise of presidential authority. The fact sheet also highlighted Turkmenistan’s improved cooperation, which led to lifting its nonimmigrant visa ban while maintaining suspension for immigrant entries.
With Nigeria now officially on the U.S. list of partially restricted nations, travelers from the country will face stricter vetting, though exemptions for diplomats, athletes, and certain permanent residents remain. The Proclamation marks a significant expansion of U.S. travel restrictions affecting both African and global travelers.
Emma Tochi ✔
Godwin Okafor is the Publisher & CEO of Naija247news Media Group LLC, an independent investigative news platform delivering accurate, data-driven reporting on Nigerian and global politics, economy, finance, and business. Founded in October 2010, Naija247news specializes in developmental journalism, providing timely insights and analysis to readers across Nigeria and the diaspora.
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