Amid escalating concerns over national security, the Trump administration has officially removed Romania from the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

The decision, reversing former President Joe Biden's last-minute inclusion of Romania in the VWP, comes after a thorough review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department, as Breitbart reports.

The VWP allows nationals from certain countries to enter the U.S. without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Initially, Romania's admission to this program was seen as a move to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Europe.

Admission followed by subsequent pause

Biden had approved Romania’s entry into the VWP as part of his administration's broader European strategy. However, this decision was flagged due to underlying national security concerns and was implemented just before the transition to the Trump administration.

Shortly after the inclusion announcement in January, the DHS put a temporary hold on Romania's VWP status in March, signaling the start of an exhaustive review led by both the DHS and the State Department.

This scrutiny focused notably on Romania's visa overstay rates, which had shown considerable fluctuations over the past few years. The rates stood at 2.61% in 2024 but had spiked to nearly 13% in 2022 and more than 17% the year before.

Program issues identified

The evaluation highlighted significant concerns about the misuse of the VWP. Breitbart News has documented instances where the program was exploited by foreign burglary gangs who entered the U.S. without visas to commit a range of crimes. This alarming utilization contributed to the decision to reassess Romania's status.

Moreover, all countries participating in the VWP are expected to maintain a visa overstay rate of less than 3%. Romania, with its variable rates peaking significantly higher in recent years, failed to meet this criterion consistently.

The administrative change is seen as part of broader security measures, considering the vulnerabilities pointed out in previous assessments, including those from the 9/11 Commission Staff Report.

White House offers comments on move

A senior White House official commented on the broader implications of the move, reflecting on democratic values across Europe. "The Administration notes with increasing concern the recent developments across Europe of democratic backsliding," stated the official.

The official continued, emphasizing the importance of maintaining democratic integrity. "Healthy democracies do not fear opposing perspectives. Concerted efforts to delegitimize certain political perspectives draw a striking resemblance to the American experience that President Trump faced, including lawfare and censorship."

These remarks suggest that the administration's decision is part of a larger scrutiny into how aligned nations are with the democratic and regulatory standards expected by the United States.

Implications of Romania's VWP removal

The exclusion of Romania from the VWP marks a significant shift in U.S.-Romanian relations and could affect travel plans for Romanian nationals planning short-term visits to the United States.

Beyond immediate travel disruptions, this decision may also have diplomatic repercussions, potentially cooling the bilateral relations that were expected to strengthen following Romania's inclusion in the VWP.

As the situation develops, both U.S. and Romanian officials will likely continue to address and negotiate terms that could influence future visa policies and the strategic partnership between the two nations.

What comes next?

Moving forward, the Trump administration appears committed to enforcing stringent measures on the VWP, with a clear focus on national security and adherence to administrative protocols. This incident with Romania may prompt a reevaluation of similar agreements with other nations.

The ongoing dialogues and future negotiations will be crucial in determining the trajectory of international travel regulations and security measures that align with global democratic and safety standards.

This event is a definitive example of how national security concerns can override initial diplomatic gestures, signaling to other nations the importance of compliance with U.S. regulatory standards.