President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping proclamation barring nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, a move the White House says is necessary to protect national security and prevent terrorism. The executive order, announced Wednesday evening, will take effect on June 9 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
The full travel ban applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, travelers from seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will face partial restrictions, including tighter visa requirements and limited access to certain visa categories.
“We will not permit individuals who intend to harm us to enter our nation,” Trump declared in a video statement, emphasizing that the list of banned countries could be updated and expanded as global threats evolve.
The new policy, which echoes Trump’s controversial travel bans from his first term, cites concerns over terrorism, inadequate cooperation on visa security, poor criminal record-keeping, and high rates of visa overstays as reasons for the restrictions. The White House referenced a recent security incident at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, as further justification for the move, though the suspect in that case was not from a country on the banned list.
Officials noted that the ban does not affect lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, or individuals whose entry is deemed in the U.S. national interest. The administration has also established a review process, allowing for adjustments or removal of countries from the list if they improve their security and information-sharing practices.
The announcement has drawn swift criticism from governments of the affected countries, who are scrambling to assess the impact and considering diplomatic responses3. Immigration advocates warn that the policy could disrupt families, businesses, and academic exchanges, while supporters argue it fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to safeguard Americans from foreign threats.
