In a significant immigration policy move, the Trump administration has announced stringent entry restrictions targeting nationals from three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. Effective January 1, 2026, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Haiti will face either complete bans or limited access to the United States.
President Donald Trump justified these measures as essential for national security, citing inadequate screening protocols and information-sharing deficiencies in these nations. The policy represents an extension of travel restrictions initially implemented during his first term, which were subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.
The administration specifically highlighted concerns regarding Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs offered by Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. These initiatives grant citizenship to foreign investors without requiring residency, creating potential security vulnerabilities according to U.S. officials. Trump’s executive order noted that such programs could enable individuals from already restricted countries to obtain secondary citizenship and bypass existing travel bans.
Under the new regulations, consular officers will substantially reduce visa validity periods for nationals of these Caribbean nations to the maximum extent permitted by law. The restrictions apply comprehensively to both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J categories.
The policy expansion also affects several additional countries beyond the Caribbean region. Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will face complete entry restrictions. Meanwhile, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will encounter partial limitations.
The administration emphasized that these measures result from unsuccessful diplomatic engagements aimed at improving information-sharing practices and security protocols with the affected nations.