Nigeria among countries classified under high risk as TRUMP announces new travel restrictions

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - President Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 16, signed a proclamation further restricting entry into the United States for nationals of countries identified as high risk due to what the White House described as persistent and severe 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 announced 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 called common sense restrictions based on data.

The proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals from the original 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These countries are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

It also introduces full restrictions on five additional countries, namely 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 under partial restrictions, have now been placed under full restrictions.

Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain subject to partial restrictions.

In addition, the proclamation imposes partial entry restrictions on 15 more countries. These include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The fact sheet states that 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 United States national interests. It also notes that family based immigrant visa exemptions associated with what it described as demonstrated fraud risks have been narrowed, while case by case waivers are still possible.

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”.

The document quoted Trump 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.”

According to the White House, the decision followed consultations with cabinet officials and assessments carried out under Executive Order 14161, Proclamation 10949 and country specific data. It said the president determined that restricting or limiting entry from additional countries was necessary to protect national security and public safety.

The restrictions are described as country specific, with the White House saying they are intended to encourage cooperation while recognising the unique circumstances of each nation. Challenges cited include widespread corruption, unreliable or fraudulent civil documents, weak criminal record systems and the absence of effective birth registration processes that hinder accurate vetting.

The fact sheet also points to some countries’ refusal to share passport samples or law enforcement data, the use of citizenship by investment schemes that obscure identity, 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 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 nonimmigrant 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.