The United States President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation tightening entry restrictions for nationals of countries classified as high-risk due to what the White House described as serious deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing processes that pose threats to U.S. national security and public safety.
Nigeria is among 15 additional countries placed under partial entry restrictions in the proclamation, according to 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.”
Trump had earlier, on October 31, designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” following allegations of widespread persecution of Christians.
Explaining Nigeria’s inclusion, U.S. authorities cited the activities of extremist groups. “Radical Islamic terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State operate freely in certain parts of Nigeria, creating significant challenges for effective screening and vetting,” the statement said.
The White House also referenced visa compliance data, noting that Nigeria recorded a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent, while F, M, and J visa categories posted an overstay rate of 11.90 percent, according to the U.S. Overstay Report.
The action, the White House said, represents an effort to strengthen national security through data-driven, common-sense restrictions.
Under the proclamation, full entry restrictions remain in place for nationals of the original 12 high-risk countries listed in Proclamation 10949: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Five additional countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria—have now been placed under full restrictions, alongside individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, have also been elevated to full restrictions.
Meanwhile, Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela continue to face partial entry limitations.
The new proclamation expands partial restrictions to 15 more countries, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The fact sheet clarifies that exemptions apply to lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve U.S. national interests. While family-based immigrant visa exemptions linked to high fraud risks have been narrowed, case-by-case waivers remain available.
According to the White House, the policy aims to prevent the entry of individuals about whom the U.S. lacks sufficient information to assess potential risks, secure cooperation from foreign governments, enforce immigration laws, and advance broader national security and counterterrorism objectives.
“It is the President’s duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people,” Trump was quoted as saying.
The document explains that following consultations with cabinet officials and assessments under Executive Order 14161 and Proclamation 10949, the President determined that additional entry restrictions were necessary to protect U.S. security interests.
The restrictions, the White House noted, are country-specific and designed to encourage cooperation, taking into account challenges such as corruption, unreliable civil and criminal records, weak birth-registration systems, refusal to share law-enforcement data, and citizenship-by-investment programmes that obscure identity.
High visa-overstay rates, refusal to accept deported nationals, and the presence of terrorist and criminal networks were also cited as contributing factors.
Framing the move as part of Trump’s broader security agenda, the fact sheet stated that the President is fulfilling his promise to restore travel restrictions on countries considered dangerous and to strengthen U.S. border security.
It further referenced a previous Supreme Court ruling that upheld similar restrictions as being within presidential authority and grounded in legitimate national security objectives.
The proclamation also announced a partial reversal for Turkmenistan, noting improved cooperation with U.S. authorities. As a result, restrictions on non-immigrant visas for Turkmen nationals have been lifted, although the suspension of immigrant visas remains in effect.