President Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 16, signed a proclamation imposing further restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals into the United States, citing national security and public safety concerns.
In a fact sheet released by the White House 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,” Nigeria was listed among 15 additional countries placed under partial entry restrictions.
According to the White House, the decision is based on what it described as “persistent and severe deficiencies” in screening, vetting, and information-sharing processes by the affected countries. The administration said the measures are intended to strengthen national security through what it called data-driven, common-sense restrictions.
The proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals from 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
It also introduces full entry restrictions on five additional countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria—as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously under partial restrictions, have now been upgraded to full restrictions.
Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain subject to partial restrictions.
Under the new proclamation, partial entry restrictions have also been imposed on 15 more countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The White House clarified that exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories such as diplomats and athletes, and individuals whose entry is determined to serve the national interests of the United States.