President Donald Trump has announced expanded restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals from 24 countries, including Nigeria, citing what his administration described as serious lapses in screening, vetting and information-sharing that pose risks to United States national security and public safety.
The decision, unveiled on Tuesday, was contained in a fact sheet published on the White House website 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 new Proclamation imposes a full suspension of entry on nationals of eight countries and a partial suspension on 16 others.
The measures affect both immigrants and nonimmigrants travelling on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas.
The White House said the action was taken to “prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose” while strengthening enforcement of immigration laws and advancing national security objectives.
Countries under full suspension
The eight countries listed for full suspension are Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and holders of Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents.
The administration cited terrorism concerns, armed conflict, high visa overstay rates and the refusal or failure of some governments to accept the return of deported nationals as key reasons for the sweeping ban.
For Syria and Palestinian Authority travel documents, the fact sheet pointed to weak or compromised vetting systems, lack of effective central authority, and the presence of U.S.-designated terrorist groups operating in affected territories.
Partial suspension list
Sixteen countries were placed under partial suspension, covering specific categories of immigrants and nonimmigrants.
They include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
On Nigeria, the administration said the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country create “substantial screening and vetting difficulties,” alongside recorded visa overstay rates.
Turkmenistan was treated differently, with the fact sheet noting progress in cooperation with the United States. While restrictions on nonimmigrant visas were lifted, immigrant entry remains suspended.
Breakdown by region
By continent, the affected countries are spread across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Oceania and the Middle East. Africa accounts for the largest number, with 17 countries listed, including Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Asia includes Laos, Syria and Turkmenistan, while Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Tonga fall under the Caribbean and Oceania grouping.
Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents were listed separately for the Middle East.
The fact sheet stressed that the restrictions are temporary and subject to review, insisting that they “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 enforce immigration laws while protecting American citizens.