United States President Donald Trump has highlighted data showing that 43.6% of Sierra Leonean immigrant households in the United States depend on public benefits.

The figure was released as part of a chart shared by the President on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The data release coincides with the enforcement of a sweeping new visa ban that has effectively halted travel from Sierra Leone to the US.

The chart, titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” lists approximately 114 nations and details the percentage of households receiving some form of public assistance, such as food aid or healthcare subsidies.

According to the document circulated by the President, nearly half of all households headed by Sierra Leonean immigrants (43.6%) access federal welfare programs. This rate places Sierra Leone among the nations with significant dependency levels, though it remains lower than regional neighbors like Guinea (65.8%) and Liberia (48.9%).

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The data also showed rates for other West African nations, including: Ghana (37.9%), Nigeria (33.3%) and Senegal (39.7%)

The President used the statistics to justify his administration’s renewed “America First” immigration framework, arguing that the current system places an undue burden on American taxpayers.

The release of the welfare data comes just days after the White House escalated sanctions against Sierra Leone.

Effective January 1, 2026, the US government has imposed a full suspension of entry for Sierra Leonean nationals. This drastic measure follows Presidential Proclamation 10998, signed by President Trump on December 16, 2025, which moved Sierra Leone from a list of countries facing partial restrictions to the “full ban” category.

Under the new directive, the suspension applies to both immigrant visas (for those seeking to move permanently) and nonimmigrant visas (for tourists, students, and business travelers).

The White House stated that Sierra Leone has “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies” in its identity-management protocols and information-sharing practices, which the administration deems a threat to US national security.

The proclamation groups Sierra Leone with other nations subject to total travel bans, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Syria. Previously, Sierra Leone had faced only partial restrictions, but the administration determined that the country’s cooperation on vetting and deportations remained insufficient.

“The entry into the United States of nationals of Sierra Leone as immigrants and as nonimmigrants is hereby fully suspended,” the proclamation reads, citing the need to induce foreign governments to improve their cooperation with US immigration enforcement.

Exceptions to the order are limited, primarily applying to lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) and foreign diplomats, while most new applicants will find their path to the United States blocked indefinitely.