Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, framing it as a critical measure to shield the nation from foreign terrorists and security risks.
The fully restricted nations are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, signaling a tough stance on immigration.
Seven additional countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face partial entry limits under this sweeping directive.
Set to take effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 AM EDT, the ban leaves existing visas intact, offering some continuity for prior travelers.
Trump justifies the travel restrictions by pointing to deficient vetting systems, widespread visa overstays, and the presence of terrorist threats in the affected countries.
This policy revives echoes of his first-term travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations, a controversial measure upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 before its repeal by Joe Biden in 2021.
In response, Somalia has vowed to collaborate with the US to tackle security concerns, seeking a diplomatic resolution.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, condemned the move as fascist, cautioning Venezuelans about the perils of remaining in the US amid heightened scrutiny.
Trump spotlighted a recent Boulder, Colorado, attack, where an Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at pro-Israel protesters—as evidence of the need for stricter border control, despite Egypt’s absence from the list.
The proclamation stems from a January 20 executive order demanding rigorous vetting of foreigners, a process that pinpointed these nations for their inadequate screening protocols.
Trump has hinted at future updates, suggesting the list of restricted countries could grow as national security demands evolve.
This decisive action underscores Trump’s aggressive immigration policy, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to robust border security and safeguarding the homeland.
