2 popular Caribbean nations included in new U.S. travel ban
Two Caribbean nations have been added to the White House’s travel ban,countries joining countries such as Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Trump administration announced last week it was expanding travel restrictions to 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority. Among the countries included were the Caribbean nations of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.
The ban restricts the entry of citizens from those countries from traveling to the U.S., except for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders or some special circumstances such as athletes or diplomats, according to a fact sheet from the White House.
“The restrictions and limitations… are necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose, garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives,” the order said.
Officials in both countries said they are working with the U.S. to address concerns.
The change takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
The Caribbean countries were singled out because they allow citizenship to be obtained through investment without residency requirements.
The order, according to the fact sheet, expands and strengthens “entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing to protect the nation from national security and public safety threats.”
In June, the president announced complete or partial travel bans for 19 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.
The latest order institutes a total ban on immigrant and non-immigrant visas for people from Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Syria.
Nineteen countries, including the Caribbean nations, are banned for all immigrant visas and tourist, student and exchange visas. Those nations include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’lvoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
