President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced expanded restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing what his administration described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies” in screening, vetting, and information-sharing that pose risks to U.S. national security and public safety.

The decision was contained in a proclamation published on the White House website in a fact sheet titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”

According to the document, the proclamation imposes full suspension of entry on eight countries and partial suspension on 16 others, affecting immigrants and nonimmigrants travelling on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.

The administration said the measures were necessary to “prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose,” while strengthening enforcement of U.S. immigration laws and safeguarding national security.

Countries Under Full Suspension

The proclamation places a full suspension on entry from the following countries, based on security concerns, high visa overstay rates, terrorism risks, and failure to accept deported nationals:

Burkina Faso – Cited for active terrorist threats, high visa overstay rates, and refusal to accept removable nationals.

Laos – High visa overstay rates and failure to repatriate removable citizens.

Mali – Ongoing armed conflict and active terrorist operations in parts of the country.

Niger – Terrorist activity, kidnapping risks, and elevated visa overstay rates.

Sierra Leone – High overstay rates and failure to accept deported nationals.

South Sudan – High student and exchange visa overstay rates and refusal to accept removable nationals.

Syria – Inadequate passport issuance systems, weak vetting capacity, and ongoing security instability.

Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents – Active terrorist presence in the West Bank and Gaza, coupled with compromised vetting and screening processes.

Countries Under Partial Suspension

(Immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas)

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda – Cited for its Citizenship-by-Investment programme without residency requirements.

Benin

Côte d’Ivoire

Dominica – Citizenship-by-Investment concerns.

Gabon

The Gambia – High overstay rates and refusal to accept removable nationals.

Malawi

Mauritania – Weak government presence in parts of the country, creating vetting challenges.

Nigeria – Terrorist activity by Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates in parts of the country, alongside screening and vetting difficulties.

Senegal

Tanzania

Tonga

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Special Case: Turkmenistan

The proclamation lifted the suspension on nonimmigrant visas for Turkmenistan, citing improvements in identity management and information-sharing since the issuance of Proclamation 10949. However, immigrant entry restrictions remain in place due to lingering concerns.

Countries Affected by Region

Africa:

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Asia:
Laos, Syria, Turkmenistan

Caribbean / Oceania:
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Tonga

Middle East / Palestinian Territories:
Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents

The White House stressed that the restrictions are aimed at strengthening border security and ensuring that foreign nationals entering the United States can be properly vetted.

“These measures are necessary to prevent the entry of individuals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess potential security risks, while protecting American citizens and upholding the integrity of the immigration system,” the fact sheet stated.