A new U.S. proclamation issued Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, continues and expands restrictions on the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States, affecting several Caribbean countries as well as a number of African, Middle Eastern, and Asian nations, citing national security and public safety concerns.
Signed by President Donald Trump, the proclamation says it is U.S. policy “to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and other national security and public safety threats,” and argues that weaknesses in foreign identity-management systems can limit the U.S. government’s ability to properly vet travelers seeking entry.
For the Caribbean, the proclamation affects Haiti, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica, with different levels of restriction applied depending on the country.
Haiti and Cuba remain under existing restrictions
The proclamation does not introduce new restrictions for Haiti or Cuba, both of which were already subject to U.S. entry limits under an earlier proclamation issued in June 2025. That earlier order fully restricted entry for Haitian nationals and partially restricted entry for Cuban nationals, and the new proclamation explicitly states that those measures will continue.
Haiti remains among the countries whose nationals face a full suspension of entry, applying to both immigrant and nonimmigrant travel. Cuba remains subject to partial restrictions, which also apply to both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. The White House frames the December proclamation as an extension and modification of an existing policy framework, rather than a reset.
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica added under partial restrictions
The proclamation newly places Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica under partial entry restrictions. Under the order, the entry of nationals from both countries as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is suspended. The proclamation also directs U.S. consular officers to reduce the validity of other nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of the two countries, “to the extent permitted by law.”
In both cases, the proclamation points to concerns related to citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs that do not require residency. It argues that such programs pose challenges for screening and vetting because a person from a country subject to U.S. travel restrictions could purchase citizenship in another country, obtain a new passport, and then apply for a U.S. visa under that second nationality, thereby evading restrictions tied to their original country.
The proclamation further states that U.S. law enforcement and the Department of State have found that CBI programs have historically been vulnerable to risks, including the concealment of identity and assets, and the circumvention of travel, financial, or banking restrictions.
Other Caribbean countries, such as Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, have CBI programs. Those countries were not mentioned in the president’s proclamation.
Exceptions and effective date
The proclamation includes several exceptions. It does not apply to lawful permanent residents, dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country, certain diplomatic and official visa categories, or individuals traveling for major international sporting events. It also does not apply to individuals already granted asylum or to refugees already admitted to the United States, and it states that nothing in the order limits the ability to seek asylum or other humanitarian protections under U.S. law.
The restrictions take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Jan. 1, 2026. The proclamation also directs the U.S. government to review the restrictions every 180 days, with recommendations on whether they should be continued, modified, or lifted, and to continue engaging affected countries on improving screening, vetting, and information-sharing practices.
