WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited one of his hallmark immigration policies, announcing new travel restrictions that target a list of countries—among them, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Haiti. The executive order, signed ahead of the 2026 calendar year, places either full bans or severe visa limitations on nationals from these countries entering the United States.
The move, framed as a defensive strategy to protect U.S. borders from what Trump described as “foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist acts or exploit immigration laws,” echoes similar policies enacted during his first term in office.
CBI Program Under Fire
A key focus of the latest order is the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs operated by several Caribbean states, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. These initiatives, which allow wealthy foreign nationals to acquire citizenship in exchange for economic contributions, have drawn increasing scrutiny from U.S. security agencies. Trump’s order argues that the lack of residency requirements in these programs “weakens screening and vetting processes,” potentially enabling identity obfuscation, financial fraud, and circumvention of existing travel bans.
“Individuals can purchase a second nationality, obtain a new passport, and bypass U.S. travel restrictions entirely,” the order warned. U.S. law enforcement agencies have reportedly flagged multiple instances where CBI-origin passports were used to mask high-risk travel histories or conceal assets.
Impact on Caribbean Travelers
Effective January 1, 2026, travelers from Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica will face broad suspensions across common visa categories, including business (B-1), tourism (B-2), study (F and M visas), and cultural exchange (J visas). While complete bans are reserved for countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and North Korea, the Caribbean nations fall under the “partial restriction” tier, which will reduce visa validity and increase scrutiny for all other entries.
The order further expands its net to include additional countries in Africa and the Pacific, citing similar concerns around vetting reliability, terrorist activity, and state cooperation.
Immigration Meets Foreign Policy
The announcement signals a renewed emphasis on using immigration policy as a tool of foreign pressure. Countries that fail to meet U.S. standards for data sharing, traveler screening, and border security may find their citizens increasingly locked out of American borders.
This latest directive adds to growing tensions between the United States and several small nations that have built economic models around selling citizenship as a legitimate path to global mobility. For Caribbean nations heavily dependent on tourism, remittances, and foreign direct investment, the diplomatic and economic consequences could be severe.
Diplomatic Repercussions Likely
While no formal responses have yet been issued by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda or Dominica, insiders suggest a sharp rebuke may follow, with regional leaders expected to challenge the premise that their CBI programs represent a national security threat.
As the global political climate shifts once more toward hardline immigration postures, the Caribbean finds itself squarely in the crosshairs of a broader geopolitical tug-of-war—where the price of sovereignty may be paid at the border.
