US Expands Travel Restrictions, Adds Nigeria to List of Countries

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a new Proclamation further restricting entry into the United States for nationals of countries considered high-risk due to what the White House described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that pose threats to U.S. national security and public safety.

Among the 15 additional countries newly placed under partial travel restrictions is Nigeria, 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.”

The White House said the action was aimed at strengthening national security through what it described as “common-sense restrictions based on data,” noting that the measures followed extensive consultations with cabinet officials and reviews of country-specific security information.

The Proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals of 12 countries earlier designated as high-risk under Proclamation 10949, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

It also imposes full restrictions on five additional countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria as well as individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents, while Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial to full restrictions.

“The Proclamation adds partial restrictions and entry limitations on 15 additional countries, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe,” the White House said.

“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, as the fact sheet cited concerns such as fraudulent civil documents, high visa overstay rates, refusal to repatriate deportees, and terrorist or criminal activity.

The White House noted that exemptions remain for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and cases deemed to serve U.S. national interests, adding that the restrictions are country-specific and designed to encourage affected nations to improve cooperation on security and information-sharing.