WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former US President Donald Trump has issued sweeping new immigration directives that will impose partial travel restrictions on citizens from several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Haiti. The policy is slated to take effect on January 1, 2026, marking a renewed push to align immigration with what Trump calls national security priorities.
In a statement accompanying the executive order, Trump referenced past measures implemented during his initial term, which included country-specific bans upheld by the US Supreme Court. According to the new directive, these latest restrictions are aimed at “eliminating weak points in foreign vetting systems” and “reducing opportunities for bad actors to exploit loopholes through third-party citizenship.”
Caribbean Under Scrutiny
At the center of the policy shift is the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) model — a framework that allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship in return for economic investment. Trump’s executive order singles out countries where citizenship can be obtained without physical residency, citing it as a “national security vulnerability.”
Both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica operate CBI programmes that have drawn criticism from Washington in the past. According to the order, nationals from these countries will now face visa suspensions for categories including business, tourism, academic, and exchange programs — namely B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas. Additional visa classes may face shortened validity periods based on discretionary determinations by consular officers.
The new rules are not blanket bans, but instead implement tiered restrictions. Haiti, for instance, joins a list of countries whose nationals will be fully restricted from entering the United States, while Antigua, Dominica, and others will see limited visa access based on specific classifications.
Strategic Concern: Identity Laundering
The administration argues that CBI programmes present an avenue for identity obfuscation, allowing individuals from sanctioned regions to buy alternate passports and bypass direct restrictions.
Trump emphasized that this practice, in combination with what he described as “persistent failures in screening and information-sharing”, creates unacceptable risks for US border security. He pointed to instances where CBI documentation may have enabled individuals to sidestep sanctions, legal processes, or investigations related to financial crimes.
Broader List of Affected Nations
In addition to Caribbean nations, the expanded list includes several countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. While some face complete bans, others fall into the “restricted entry” category based on perceived gaps in security collaboration or internal governance.
The revised immigration policy marks a significant escalation in Trump’s border control agenda and reflects a recalibrated focus on “second-passport vulnerabilities”—a phrase used by administration officials to describe the use of third-country documents by individuals from high-risk nations.
Implications for the Region
Caribbean governments, particularly those that rely on CBI revenues to bolster public spending and attract foreign capital, now face a new geopolitical dilemma. If these restrictions remain in place, pressure may mount on regional governments to re-evaluate their citizenship issuance protocols and establish stricter vetting systems aligned with US expectations.
With election season nearing and immigration once again becoming a key talking point, this executive order serves as a reminder that foreign policy, national security, and immigration are likely to remain tightly interwoven under a potential second Trump administration.
