Freetown, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone has been included in a new US travel ban announced by President Donald Trump, which places partial restrictions on the entry of Sierra Leonean nationals to the United States.
The proclamation, signed on Wednesday evening, aims to bolster US security by limiting travel from several countries deemed to pose security risks.
According to the White House, nationals from Sierra Leone, along with those from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, will face partial restrictions. Citizens from twelve other countries—including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, and others—will be fully banned from entering the US under the order.
The White House clarified that certain exemptions apply, including for lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, specific visa categories, and cases deemed in the US national interest.
The ban takes effect at 12:01 AM on June 9, 2025.
The decision follows an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, which, according to a White House official, accelerated the president’s move to implement the ban. Although Trump had been considering such a measure previously, the attack spurred its immediate signing.
“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm,” said White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson in a statement posted on social media.
Trump also warned that additional countries could be added to the ban as threats evolve globally.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe,” he said in a video message.
The move marks a continuation of Trump’s hardline stance on immigration and travel restrictions, a stance he also pursued during his first term when he banned travel from several majority-Muslim nations. That earlier ban was repealed by President Joe Biden upon taking office in 2021.
The latest proclamation has sparked concerns in Sierra Leone, with many citizens worried about how the restrictions will affect travel, family ties, and business relationships with the US.
