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President Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 16, signed a proclamation further restricting entry into the United States for nationals of countries deemed high risk due to what the White House described as persistent deficiencies in screening, vetting and information sharing that threaten national security and public safety.
Among the 15 additional countries placed under partial entry restrictions is Nigeria. The decision was outlined in a fact sheet published on the White House website on December 16, 2025, titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” The White House said the move was aimed at strengthening national security through what it described as data-driven, common-sense restrictions.
The proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals of the 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These countries are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
It also introduces full restrictions on five additional countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria — as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously subject to partial restrictions, have now been placed under full restrictions. Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain under partial restrictions.
In addition, partial entry restrictions have been imposed on 15 more countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
According to the fact sheet, exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories such as athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve U.S. national interests. It also noted that family-based immigrant visa exemptions linked to what it described as demonstrated fraud risks have been narrowed, though case-by-case waivers remain available.
Explaining the decision, the White House said the proclamation is intended “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 was quoted as 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 White House said the decision followed consultations with cabinet officials and assessments conducted under Executive Order 14161, Proclamation 10949 and country-specific data reviews. It added that the president determined additional restrictions were necessary to protect national security and public safety.
The restrictions are described as country-specific and intended to encourage cooperation while recognising the unique circumstances of each nation. Challenges cited include widespread corruption, unreliable or fraudulent civil documentation, weak criminal record systems and the absence of effective birth registration processes that hinder accurate vetting. Other concerns include refusal to share passport samples or law-enforcement data, the use of citizenship-by-investment schemes, high visa overstay rates, refusal to accept the return of removable nationals, and the presence of terrorist, criminal or extremist activity.
The White House framed the move as part of Trump’s broader national security agenda, saying he is fulfilling a campaign promise to restore travel restrictions and strengthen border security. It also referenced a previous Supreme Court ruling on similar measures, noting that the court found such restrictions to fall within presidential authority and to be based on legitimate security objectives.
The proclamation also announced that restrictions on non-immigrant visas for Turkmenistan have been lifted following what the White House described as improved cooperation with the United States, while restrictions on immigrant entry for Turkmen nationals remain in place.
