Proclamation 10998—Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States
Issued 2025-12-16 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This proclamation restricts who can enter the United States, primarily to protect national security and public safety. The President is reinstating policies from previous executive orders that aimed to prevent foreign nationals with intentions of committing terrorist attacks, inciting hate crimes, or exploiting immigration laws for malicious purposes from entering the country. The government will specifically screen and vet individuals seeking to enter, focusing on countries where information is lacking or insufficient to ensure they won’t pose a threat.
The proclamation specifically targets countries with inadequate screening and vetting processes, leading to the suspension of admission for nationals from those nations. The Secretary of State, working with several agencies, has identified countries needing improvement in these areas and will engage them to improve their compliance with U.S. screening, vetting, immigration, and security requirements.
Ultimately, this action is intended to safeguard the United States from potential threats by ensuring that those admitted to the country do not intend to undermine national security, destabilize American society, or support designated foreign terrorists.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This proclamation ("Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States") imposes or modifies tariffs. The stated rationale is: "the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats)." Under Article I, Section 8, Congress holds the power to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations" and to "lay and collect Duties." However, Congress has delegated significant tariff authority to the President through statutes like Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (national security tariffs) and Section 301 of the Trade Act (unfair trade practices).
The constitutional question is the scope of that delegation. Courts have historically upheld broad presidential trade actions under these statutes. But sweeping tariff measures that effectively rewrite trade policy — affecting billions in commerce — raise non-delegation doctrine concerns. When the executive branch makes economic policy of this magnitude unilaterally, it sits at the edge of the separation of powers.
Official Summary
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