The United States has placed Nigeria under partial travel restrictions as President Donald Trump expands entry limitations on foreign nationals from countries deemed to pose heightened security risks.
President Trump signed the proclamation on Tuesday, December 16, according to a fact sheet released by the White House 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 decision was based on what it described as persistent shortcomings in screening, vetting, and information-sharing mechanisms in affected countries, which it claims pose risks to US national security and public safety.
Nigeria is among 15 additional countries now subject to partial entry restrictions. Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Under the new measures, the US will maintain full entry restrictions on nationals from 12 countries earlier listed under Proclamation 10949. These include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The proclamation also extends full restrictions to five new countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria—as well as individuals travelling with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, have now been moved to the full restriction category. Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain under partial limitations.
According to the White House, the restrictions are designed to encourage cooperation from foreign governments while addressing issues such as unreliable civil documentation, weak criminal record systems, corruption, high visa overstay rates and refusal to share law enforcement data.
The fact sheet noted that exemptions remain for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes and individuals whose entry is considered to be in the national interest of the United States. Case-by-case waivers are also permitted, although some family-based immigrant visa exemptions have been narrowed due to what the administration described as fraud risks.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, the White House said the proclamation aims to prevent entry by individuals “about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose.”
“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 administration said the decision followed extensive consultations with cabinet officials and security assessments carried out under existing executive orders. It added that the measures are part of Trump’s broader agenda to tighten border controls and strengthen national security.
The proclamation also announced the lifting of restrictions on non-immigrant visas for Turkmenistan, citing improved cooperation with US authorities, while immigrant visa restrictions for Turkmen nationals remain in place.