Trump Expands Immigration Pause to 20 More Nations
The Trump administration has announced a pause on immigration applications — including visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum — for citizens of 20 additional countries, largely in Africa.
The decision, outlined in a memo by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday, also calls for a review of applications from these countries dating back to 2021.
“USCIS remains dedicated to ensuring aliens from high-risk countries of concern who have entered the United States do not pose risks to national security or public safety,” the memo states. It adds that the move targets countries with high overstay rates, significant fraud, or both.
As of early 2026, the United States has travel restrictions affecting 39 countries, with citizens facing full or partial bans on entry under the expanded policy that took effect on January 1.
The announcement comes days after Mali and Burkina Faso barred U.S. citizens in retaliation, following Trump’s decision to block Malian and Burkinabé nationals from entering the United States. The measures have added tension to relations between West African military governments and Washington.
Trump first expanded travel restrictions on December 16 to include countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, citing ongoing security threats and persistent attacks by armed groups as key reasons. The affected nations are currently governed by military juntas that deposed civilian administrations amid rising insecurity.
Officials said the policy aims to protect national security and public safety while controlling immigration flows from countries experiencing instability and armed conflicts.
