Trump Signs Proclamation Tightening Entry Rules for Foreign Nationals

The White House posted a Fact Sheet on December 16, 2025 stating that President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on foreign nationals from countries the administration says show persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information sharing. The administration framed the action as necessary to protect national security and public safety.

The December action follows a June 4, 2025 proclamation identified by NAFSA as Proclamation 10949 and published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 24497 on June 10, 2025. That earlier proclamation took effect at 12 01 a.m. Eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025 and imposed full restrictions on nationals of 12 countries and partial restrictions on nationals of seven countries. The 12 listed as subject to full restrictions are Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The seven listed as subject to partial restrictions are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The administration cites statutory authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act section 212 f, codified at 8 U.S.C. 1182 f, which empowers the president to suspend or impose restrictions on entry of noncitizens when such entry would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. NAFSA and other policy resources identify Proclamation 10949 and its Federal Register publication as the legal and regulatory record for the June measures.

Policy and advocacy groups have responded with concern over the breadth and consequences of the administration’s approach. The American Immigration Council described the June expansion as significant and pointed to potential humanitarian and socioeconomic costs. The Council and other observers noted media reporting that the administration had considered imposing restrictions on as many as 36 additional countries, primarily in sub Saharan Africa. The Council called for attention to accountability for the consequences of sweeping restrictions. The Council’s commentary echoes academic and policy analysis that many of the countries named in June are contending with crises at home and limited capacity for the kinds of information sharing and vetting the United States demands.

The December proclamation marks a continued hardening of entry policy that traces to the president’s earlier travel restrictions from his first term in 2017, which prompted airport protests, court challenges, and a series of revisions before a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Legal scholars and immigrant rights advocates are likely to scrutinize both the legal basis and the implementation of the new limits, particularly how consular processing, refugee admissions, student visas, and family reunification will be handled in practice.

Beyond legal questions, the policy carries diplomatic implications for relations with affected governments and for U S engagement in regions where instability and humanitarian need are acute. The administration presents the measures as data driven and targeted, while opponents warn of broader economic and human costs. The coming days will determine how the proclamation is implemented, which agencies oversee the new measures, and whether Congress or the courts mount formal challenges.