President Donald Trump has expanded restrictions on foreign nationals entering the United States, a move that now directly affects two Caribbean nations that operate citizenship by investment programs. The new measures were announced on December 16 and are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Under the proclamation, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica will face partial entry restrictions. Nationals of both countries will no longer be eligible for immigrant visas, including those for family, employment, or diversity-based permanent residence. The restrictions also cover B-1 business visas, B-2 tourist visas, combined B-1/B-2 visas, as well as F academic student visas, M vocational student visas, and J exchange visitor visas.
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The White House said the decision was driven by concerns surrounding citizenship by investment programs. According to the proclamation, such programs could allow individuals from restricted countries to purchase citizenship in a second country not subject to US travel bans, obtain a new passport, and then apply for US visas, thereby circumventing existing restrictions. US law enforcement agencies and the State Department have concluded that citizenship by investment programs have historically carried risks related to identity concealment, financial opacity, and sanctions evasion.
While Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia operate similar programs, they were not included in the current proclamation.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne expressed strong disappointment over his country’s inclusion, rejecting the characterization of its citizenship by investment program. He said the assertion that the program operates without a residency requirement does not reflect current law. Parliament, he noted, recently passed legislation introducing a mandatory 30 day physical residency requirement as a strict condition for citizenship.
Browne revealed that Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, contacted the State Department immediately after the proclamation was issued. According to Browne, US officials indicated they were surprised by the decision and had received no prior notice. He stressed that Antigua and Barbuda had engaged in good faith with multiple US agencies over the past year to strengthen safeguards and had adopted practical recommendations to ensure the program posed no security risk to the United States.
Highlighting the broader relationship, Browne pointed out that the United States is Antigua and Barbuda’s largest trading partner and enjoys a consistent trade surplus with the country. He emphasized that bilateral ties, rooted in shared democratic values and long standing people to people connections, predate the independence of both nations. Browne said he intends to write directly to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to seek dialogue and cooperation aimed at restoring normal visa access.
Dominica’s government issued a brief statement acknowledging the restrictions and pledging urgent engagement with US authorities. Officials said they are actively consulting the US Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, to clarify the scope and implications of the measures for Dominican travelers, students, and families. The government committed to working closely with US officials to address concerns and protect the interests of its citizens, promising further updates once additional details are confirmed.
The proclamation also imposes full entry bans on five additional countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously under partial restrictions, are now subject to full bans. Fifteen other countries, including Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania, join Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica under partial restrictions.
Nineteen countries in total now face full entry bans, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, alongside the newly added states. The administration also continues partial restrictions on several countries from earlier proclamations, while removing Turkmenistan from the list.
The restrictions will not apply to individuals who already hold valid US visas before January 1, 2026, or who are outside the United States on the effective date. Exemptions also cover lawful permanent residents, dual nationals traveling on passports from non designated countries, certain diplomatic and official visa holders, athletes participating in major international sporting events, and special immigrant visa holders who supported the US government. Case by case waivers may also be granted when travel is deemed to serve US national interests.
The proclamation establishes a 180 day review process to determine whether the restrictions should be modified or lifted, while continuing engagement with affected countries to improve screening, vetting, and information sharing practices.
