President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation further restricting the entry of foreign nationals into the United States, adding Nigeria and 15 other countries to the list of nations facing partial travel limitations. The announcement, made on Tuesday, is part of the U.S. administration’s ongoing effort to tighten entry standards and protect national security.
The newly added countries include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Citizens of these countries will now face partial travel restrictions, which affect certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories.
The proclamation continues full travel restrictions on the original 12 high-risk countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, full restrictions now also apply to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. Two countries previously under partial restrictions, Laos and Sierra Leone, are now fully restricted.
Partial restrictions remain in effect for Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela. Meanwhile, the proclamation lifts nonimmigrant visa bans for Turkmenistan, citing improved cooperation with the United States, although restrictions on immigrant visas for its nationals remain in place.
The new rules include several exceptions. Lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, certain visa categories such as athletes, diplomats, and others whose entry serves U.S. national interests are exempted from the restrictions.
This expansion nearly doubles the number of countries subject to U.S. travel restrictions, bringing the total to 39 countries across Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Asia. The updated restrictions are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Officials stated that the move is intended to ensure that travelers entering the United States meet updated security requirements and to prevent potential risks to national safety. The proclamation has sparked debates about its impact on international relations, tourism, business travel, and the Nigerian diaspora in particular, as well as other affected countries.
U.S. authorities have emphasized that the restrictions are based on security analyses and cooperation assessments, and that entry may still be permitted under certain conditions to individuals meeting specific criteria.
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