Washington, D.C. — The administration issued a proclamation on December 16 that increases the number of countries affected by a full or partial travel ban from 19 to 39, including Nigeria which is a top ten sending country. International students and exchange visitors continue to be impacted by both full and partial bans. The updated travel ban goes into effect on January 1, 2026. Existing visa holders are exempted. The following is a statement from NAFSA: Association of International Educators in response.
“While anticipated, the expansion of the travel ban is disappointing and misguided. We as international educators take national security—and our commitment to uphold it—very seriously. Yet blanket travel bans based on entire nationalities or visa categories do not make the United States safer. In fact, they do the opposite. They make us weaker.
“Relying on travel bans to act as a shield rather than relying on the strength of U.S. vetting protocols is essentially a retreat from global engagement. Our isolationism will create a vacuum that other enterprising nations will gladly fill. At a time when countries including China, Canada, Germany, and Japan are actively courting talented students, scholars, and researchers from around the world, this travel ban sends the message that the United States is better off without their contributions.
“Furthermore, the proclamation’s rationale is based in part on visa overstay rates that are known to be deeply flawed. Using inaccurate data to justify a policy that has such far-reaching consequences for U.S. global engagement is misleading.
“The administration’s latest actions will undoubtedly prevent some of the world’s best and brightest students from contributing to U.S. predominance in research, science, and innovation. This is yet another grave misstep that will have long-lasting consequences on U.S. global competitiveness.
“We urge the administration to work with Congress to enact policy solutions that would reverse the damage this action and others are causing to our national interest.”
More about the details of the December 16 proclamation, including a quick-reference table, can be found at nafsa.org/travelbans.
About NAFSA: Association of International Educators
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA promotes policies that ensure the continued growth and impact of global learning, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding through study abroad, international student services, and campus internationalization. With a network of over 10,000 professionals in the field at more than 3,500 institutions in 150+ countries, NAFSA is committed to fostering a more globally connected and peaceful world. nafsa.org.