The United States has imposed fresh entry restrictions on Nigeria, placing the country on a new list of nations affected by an expanded travel policy unveiled by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The move follows the signing of a broad Proclamation by the US president introducing new limits on the entry of foreign nationals from countries classified as posing elevated risks to American security and public safety.
Nigeria is among 15 additional countries now subjected to partial restrictions under the revised policy framework.
According to the Proclamation, the decision was driven by what the White House described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” by the affected countries.
The White House said the measure is aimed at tightening US border controls and strengthening national security, describing the policy as “strengthening national security through common sense restrictions based on data.”
Under the new framework, entry restrictions vary by country. While some nations face outright bans, others — including Nigeria — are subject to partial limitations affecting specific visa categories and immigration pathways.
The Proclamation retains full entry restrictions on nationals from 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition, five countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria — have been newly placed under full restrictions. Individuals travelling with Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents are also affected. Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, have now been moved into the full restriction category.
Nigeria joins a growing list of countries placed under partial restrictions, alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela remain under partial limitations from earlier proclamations.
The White House clarified that the policy includes exemptions for lawful permanent residents of the United States, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and certain other visa categories, while also allowing for case-by-case waivers where entry is deemed to serve US national interests.
However, the administration disclosed that some family-based immigrant visa categories have been tightened due to what it described as “demonstrated fraud risks.”
Explaining the rationale behind the restrictions, the White House said they are designed “to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose.”
It added that the policy is also intended to compel greater cooperation from foreign governments, improve information-sharing, and advance broader national security and counterterrorism objectives.
President Trump was quoted in the accompanying fact sheet 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.”
The document further stated that, following consultations with cabinet officials and security agencies, “President Trump has determined that the entry of nationals from additional countries must be restricted or limited to protect U.S. national security and public safety interests.”
The administration noted that the restrictions are country-specific, reflecting what it described as unique challenges in each location, including corruption, unreliable civil and criminal records, weak birth registration systems, and limited access to law-enforcement data.
Additional concerns cited include high visa overstay rates, refusal by some governments to accept deported nationals, and links to criminal and extremist activities.
As part of the same review process, the Proclamation announced that restrictions on Turkmenistan had been partially lifted. While nonimmigrant visa bans were removed following improved cooperation, immigrant entry restrictions remain in place.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria had earlier reported that President Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a label tied to allegations of widespread religious violence and the killing of Christians.
That earlier decision had already strained diplomatic engagements between Abuja and Washington, laying the groundwork for increased scrutiny of Nigeria under the latest travel policy.
The new restrictions are expected to heighten concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study, or reunite with family members in the United States, while further intensifying debates around immigration, security, and US–Africa relations.
