Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a major development affecting travel and immigration for Sierra Leoneans, US President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation expanding entry restrictions, moving Sierra Leone from partial to full visa suspensions and entry limitations, effective January 1, 2026.
The White House announced on December 16, 2025, that the proclamation strengthens screening and vetting requirements to address national security and public safety concerns.
Sierra Leone, previously subject to partial restrictions since June 2025 (limiting certain nonimmigrant and immigrant visas), now joins a list of countries facing comprehensive bans on most visa categories and entry into the United States.
According to the proclamation, Sierra Leone’s escalation stems from persistent deficiencies in information-sharing, high visa overstay rates (including over 35% for student and exchange visas in recent reports), and historical issues with accepting repatriated nationals. The move aligns with similar full restrictions imposed on Laos, alongside new full bans on Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
This expansion builds on an initial June 2025 proclamation that fully restricted 12 countries (Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) and partially restricted seven others, including Sierra Leone. The updated policy now affects a total of 39 countries with full or partial limitations, adding partial restrictions on 15 more nations such as Nigeria, Senegal, and The Gambia.
Exceptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents (green card holders), those with existing valid visas, diplomats, athletes, and cases where entry serves US national interests. Case-by-case waivers are available, though family-based immigrant visa exemptions have been narrowed to reduce fraud risks.
Sierra Leonean officials and diaspora communities have expressed concern over the impact on family reunifications, education, business travel, and tourism.
The broader proclamation continues partial restrictions on Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela, while easing some limits on Turkmenistan due to improved cooperation.
This policy revives and expands measures from Trump’s first term, emphasizing data-driven risks like inadequate vetting and overstay rates to protect US borders.
