New immigration restrictions ordered by President Donald Trump officially took effect on January 1, significantly tightening U.S. entry rules for travelers from several countries and reshaping the H-1B skilled worker visa program.
According to updated guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), individuals from seven countries—Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria—are now barred from traveling to the United States. The restrictions apply to both immigrants and nonimmigrants, based on a CBP document dated December 29.
The Trump administration says the measures are necessary for national security and public safety, while immigrant advocacy groups argue the policy disproportionately affects African and Muslim-majority nations, raising concerns about discrimination and due process under U.S. immigration law.
Expansion of Existing Travel Bans
The new restrictions build on earlier travel bans already in place for individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The CBP guidance also outlines partial travel restrictions for nationals of Venezuela and Cuba.
The White House has not released detailed criteria explaining how the affected countries were selected, but officials maintain that the decisions were based on security vetting standards and cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.
H-1B Visa System Overhaul Takes Effect
The travel restrictions coincide with new H-1B visa regulations that went into effect earlier this week, marking a major shift in how skilled foreign workers are selected.
The H-1B program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals in specialized occupations, has traditionally relied on a random lottery system due to high demand. Under the new rules, applications will now be evaluated using a weighted selection process that prioritizes higher-wage earners.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said the previous system had been exploited.
“The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers,” Tragesser said. He added that the new system aligns more closely with congressional intent by incentivizing employers to petition for “higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers.”
USCIS currently caps the program at 85,000 H-1B visas annually.
Legal and Economic Concerns Raised
Immigration attorneys and higher education advocates warn that the changes could have far-reaching consequences. Rosanna Beradi, an immigration lawyer, said the revised system will significantly narrow eligibility.
“The change will severely limit the number of applicants who qualify under the H-1B program,” Beradi told ABC News. “It will make it even harder for international students to remain in the U.S. after graduation and will exacerbate the brain drain. The new rule effectively eliminates the lottery system and prioritizes high-wage earners.”
Legal experts note that the combined impact of expanded travel bans and stricter visa rules may trigger court challenges, particularly around claims of unequal treatment and the administration’s authority under immigration statutes.
