The United States has placed Nigeria on a new list of countries facing fresh entry restrictions following an expanded travel policy announced on Tuesday by President Donald Trump.
The decision forms part of a broader Proclamation signed by the US president, introducing new limits on the entry of foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk to American security and public safety. Nigeria is among 15 additional countries now subjected to partial restrictions under the policy.
According to the White House, the move is based on what it described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” by the affected countries. The administration said the policy is aimed at tightening border controls and strengthening national security, calling it a measure to “strengthen national security through common sense restrictions based on data.”
Under the new framework, restrictions vary by country. While some nations face full entry bans, others including Nigeria are subject to partial limitations affecting specific visa categories and immigration pathways.
The Proclamation retains full restrictions on nationals of 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Five additional countries Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria have now been added to the full restriction list. Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial to full restrictions, while individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents are also affected.
Nigeria joins Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe under the new partial restriction category. Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela remain under partial limitations from earlier proclamations.
The White House said exemptions apply to lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and select other visa categories, with case-by-case waivers available where entry serves US national interests. However, some family-based immigrant visa categories have been tightened due to what the administration described as “demonstrated fraud risks.”
Explaining the policy, the White House said the restrictions are intended “to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose,” while encouraging improved cooperation and information-sharing by foreign governments.
President Trump 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,” adding that consultations with security agencies informed the decision. The administration cited country-specific challenges such as corruption, unreliable civil and criminal records, weak birth registration systems, high visa overstay rates, refusal to accept deported nationals, and concerns linked to criminal and extremist activities.
As part of the same review, restrictions on Turkmenistan were partially eased following improved cooperation, although limits on immigrant entry remain.
The development follows an earlier designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of religious violence, a move that had already strained diplomatic relations between Abuja and Washington.
The latest restrictions are expected to raise concerns among Nigerians seeking travel, education, or family reunification in the United States, while adding a new dimension to ongoing debates over immigration, security, and US–Africa relations.
