Donald Trump Administration Immigration Policy

The Trump administration has added 25 countries to a State Department program requiring certain visa applicants to post bonds of $5,000 to $15,000, bringing the total to 38 nations—mostly in Africa but now also including Venezuela and Cuba—whose citizens could face steep additional costs to obtain U.S. tourist or business visas. Building on an August 2025 pilot and a Jan. 1 rollout for seven countries, the latest designations take effect Jan. 21, 2026, restrict approved travelers’ entry to Boston Logan, JFK and Washington Dulles airports, and are justified by the administration as a way to deter visa overstays based on a 2024 DHS overstay report.