New U.S. Travel Rules Hit Tonga and 29 Nations—What You Need to Know

Travel restrictions imposed by the United States on Tonga and 29 other countries took effect on January 1. These new country-specific protocols have resulted in the suspension of visas for short-term visits, tourism, and business purposes, significantly limiting entry into the U.S. for nationals of Tonga and the other affected countries.

This decision follows the enforcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998, announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which aims to “protect the security of the United States.” Tonga has been identified as one of the 15 countries facing these restrictions, joining Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

One of the key factors prompting this restriction is Tonga’s notably high visa overstay rate. It is estimated that around 78,000 Tongans reside in the U.S., with many Tongan Americans having non-citizen parents. According to the White House, as much as 14.4 percent of Tongans who travel to the U.S. for educational purposes exceed the duration of their visas.

The U.S. State Department indicated that the travel restrictions were determined after a thorough interagency review, assessing each government’s ability to effectively identify and document their nationals, as well as share information on criminal and security matters. The review also addressed risks linked to corruption, instability, terrorist activities, and misuse of citizenship-by-investment programs.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the new travel restrictions during an interview on Fox News, emphasizing that unstable governments may lead to challenges in accurately vetting individuals traveling to the U.S. She remarked, “If they don’t have a stable government there… why should we allow people from that country to come here to the United States?”

While these measures indicate a heightened caution regarding immigration, they also highlight the complexities involved in international relations and national security. As both nations navigate these challenges, there remains hope for future dialogues that could foster mutual understanding and improved travel relations.