Dominica, Antigua Added to Expanded U.S. Entry Restrictions as Trump Cites Vetting Failures and Security Risks

The United States has imposed new, targeted entry restrictions on nationals of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda under a sweeping presidential proclamation that expands travel limitations on countries deemed to have persistent deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing, according to a fact sheet released by the White House.

The proclamation, signed by President Donald Trump, significantly broadens and strengthens existing restrictions first imposed during his earlier administration, framing the policy as a national-security measure rooted in data, compliance failures, and documented risks to public safety. Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda are among 15 countries newly placed under partial entry restrictions, with the administration citing concerns tied to identity verification and citizenship-by-investment practices.

What the Restrictions Mean for Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda

Under the proclamation, nationals of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda are now subject to partial suspension of entry for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas in key categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visas.

The White House said both countries have historically operated citizenship-by-investment programs without residency requirements, a factor the administration argues undermines reliable vetting and allows individuals to obscure identity and travel history. These programs, according to the proclamation, pose elevated risks when combined with insufficient information-sharing and documentation controls.

The restrictions are country-specific, meaning they apply based on nationality rather than individual conduct, and are designed to pressure governments to improve compliance with U.S. security standards.

Impact on Current Visa Holders and Lawful Residents

The proclamation includes explicit exceptions for certain groups. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are not affected. Individuals who already hold valid U.S. visas are generally exempt from the new restrictions, unless separate grounds for inadmissibility apply.

Certain visa categories are also excluded, including diplomats, government officials, athletes, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests. In addition, the proclamation preserves case-by-case waivers, allowing for individualized determinations in compelling circumstances.

However, the administration narrowed broad family-based immigrant visa carve-outs, citing demonstrated fraud risks, while maintaining discretionary waivers rather than automatic exemptions.

What It Means for Those Without Visas

For individuals from Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda who do not yet hold U.S. visas, the proclamation sharply raises the likelihood of denial for affected categories unless exemptions apply. New applications in restricted categories will face heightened scrutiny or suspension until the administration determines that security deficiencies have been adequately addressed.

The White House emphasized that the restrictions are not permanent and are intended to encourage cooperation and reform.

Broader Expansion of Full and Partial Restrictions

The proclamation continues full entry suspensions for nationals of 12 previously designated high-risk countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and others. It adds five new countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria—to the list of nations subject to full suspension, citing terrorism, armed conflict, unreliable civil documentation, high visa overstay rates, and refusal to accept deported nationals.

It also imposes full entry restrictions on individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents, citing the inability to conduct adequate vetting amid active terrorist presence and weakened administrative control.

Meanwhile, Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, are now subject to full suspension due to high overstay rates and failure to repatriate removable nationals.

Countries Facing Partial Suspension

In addition to Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, partial restrictions now apply to nationals of Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The administration cited combinations of high visa overstay rates, terrorism concerns, weak government control, and limited law-enforcement cooperation.

Turkmenistan Sees Partial Relief

The proclamation lifts the suspension on nonimmigrant visas for nationals of Turkmenistan, citing productive engagement and progress in identity-management and information-sharing. However, immigrant entry for Turkmen nationals remains suspended.

National Security Rationale

The White House said many of the restricted countries suffer from widespread corruption, unreliable or nonexistent civil records, poor birth-registration systems, and refusal to share passport exemplars or criminal data. High overstay rates and failure to repatriate deportable nationals were cited as evidence of disregard for U.S. immigration law.

President Trump stated that it is his duty to prevent entry of individuals who cannot be adequately vetted and to protect Americans from terrorism, organized crime, and other security threats.

The administration also referenced Supreme Court precedent upholding similar restrictions in Trump’s first term, noting the Court found such actions squarely within presidential authority and grounded in legitimate national-security objectives.

Policy Direction Going Forward

The proclamation signals a renewed and expanded enforcement-first approach to border security, immigration control, and international cooperation. Officials emphasized that restrictions may be modified or lifted if countries demonstrate measurable improvements in vetting, information-sharing, and compliance with U.S. immigration enforcement.

For now, nationals of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and other listed countries face new barriers to U.S. entry—particularly those seeking visas for travel, study, or immigration—while current visa holders and lawful residents remain largely unaffected under the stated exemptions.