Donald Trump has announced expanded partial and full restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries, including Nigeria.
The move targets countries with “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.
The announcement was published on the White House website 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.”
According to the document, the Proclamation imposes full suspension on eight countries and partial suspension on 16 others, affecting immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The administration said the measures are necessary to “prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose” and to strengthen enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
Countries under full suspension and reasons
Burkina Faso: Ongoing terrorist activities, high visa overstay rates, and a history of refusing to accept repatriated nationals.
Laos: Extremely high visa overstay rates and repeated failure to accept removable nationals.
Mali: Widespread armed conflict and the active presence of terrorist groups across parts of the country.
Niger: Terrorist activity, kidnapping threats, and high B-1/B-2 and student visa overstay rates.
Sierra Leone: High overstay rates for both visitor and student visas and refusal to accept deported nationals.
South Sudan: High visa overstay rates and a record of failing to accept repatriated citizens.
Syria: Prolonged civil unrest, lack of a reliable central authority for issuing documents, and inadequate screening and vetting systems.
Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents: Active terrorist groups in Gaza and the West Bank, compromised vetting systems due to ongoing conflict, and weak administrative control.
Countries under partial suspension and reasons
Angola: High visitor and student visa overstay rates.
Antigua and Barbuda: Citizenship-by-investment programmes lacking residency requirements.
Benin: Elevated visa overstay rates, particularly for students.
Côte d’Ivoire: Notable B-1/B-2 and F, M, J visa overstay rates.
Dominica: Citizenship-by-investment programme without residency requirements.
Gabon: High visitor and student visa overstay rates.
The Gambia: High overstay rates and refusal to accept removable nationals.
Malawi: Elevated overstay rates for both visitor and student visas.
Mauritania: Limited government presence in parts of the country, creating screening and vetting challenges.
Nigeria: Presence of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates, creating vetting difficulties, alongside recorded visa overstay rates.
Senegal: Moderate visitor and student visa overstay rates.
Tanzania: Notable overstay rates across visitor and student visa categories.
Tonga: Elevated overstay rates for B-1/B-2 and student visas.
Zambia: High visitor and student visa overstay rates.
Zimbabwe: Elevated overstay rates across visa categories.