United States President Donald Trump has announced an expansion of entry restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing what his administration described as persistent gaps in screening, vetting and information-sharing that pose risks to U.S. national security and public safety.
The new measures, outlined in a White House fact sheet, impose a full suspension of entry on eight countries and partial restrictions on 16 others. The restrictions affect both immigrant and non-immigrant travellers and cover visa categories including business and tourist visas, as well as student and exchange visitor visas.
According to the administration, the decision is aimed at preventing the entry of individuals for whom the United States lacks sufficient information to adequately assess security risks, while strengthening enforcement of immigration laws and protecting public safety.
The policy shift follows heightened security concerns after a deadly shooting involving U.S. National Guard soldiers near the White House in November. In the aftermath, Trump reiterated his hardline stance on immigration, particularly from countries facing security challenges or weak identity management systems.
Under the proclamation, full suspensions generally bar most new visa issuances and entry into the United States for affected nationals, with limited exemptions for lawful permanent residents, diplomats and other protected categories. Partial restrictions limit specific visa classes and may include stricter screening, reduced visa validity and enhanced vetting requirements.
Countries facing full suspension include Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, with the administration citing terrorism concerns, high visa overstay rates, weak governance or inadequate document controls.
The countries placed under partial restrictions include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The administration cited factors such as terrorism threats in certain regions, high overstay rates and limited cooperation on accepting deported nationals.
Nigeria was listed under partial restrictions, with U.S. authorities pointing to security challenges posed by extremist groups operating in parts of the country and concerns over vetting and overstay rates.
The administration said the restrictions would be reviewed periodically and could be lifted or modified if affected countries take concrete steps to address U.S. security and information-sharing concerns.
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