Bryan David Hunt, the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, has announced the imposition of new travel restrictions on Sierra Leone by the U.S. government.

Speaking during an interview on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone programme, Ambassador Hunt cited alarming overstay rates among Sierra Leonean travelers as the primary reason for the decision.

Sierra Leone is the 13th highest overstay rate country for B1, B2 Tourist and Business Visa travelers in the world, and the 8th highest for Student and Exchange Visas,” Hunt stated. He emphasized that such figures raised serious concerns within the U.S. immigration system, prompting a policy shift at the highest level.

According to Ambassador Hunt, President Donald J. Trump signed a new Executive Order restricting B1/B2 Tourist and Business Visas, as well as Student and Exchange Visitor Visas for Sierra Leonean nationals. “Because of this, the President of the United States did not feel he could continue in good faith to allow Sierra Leoneans to receive these categories of visas. Therefore, he decided to impose restrictions, not just on those categories, but also on a wide number of immigrant visas,” Hunt explained.

The move is part of the U.S. government’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, targeting countries with high levels of non-compliance with visa terms. Sierra Leone now faces partial travel restrictions that could impact students, professionals, and families seeking immigration opportunities.

Ambassador Hunt clarified that the restrictions are not a blanket ban but are intended to prompt greater cooperation from the Sierra Leonean government in addressing the visa overstay issue.

The U.S. Embassy in Freetown is expected to work closely with Sierra Leonean authorities to mitigate the impact and encourage compliance with international travel regulations.