Trump Issues Proclamation Banning Travel from 12 Nations

Trump Signs Sweeping Travel Ban Targeting 12 Nations, Citing National Security Risks

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday evening barring entry into the United States for nationals from 12 countries, citing concerns over security and vetting procedures.

The directive imposes a full travel ban on citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additionally, partial restrictions will apply to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The partial ban may include limits on visa categories or heightened scrutiny.

Exemptions include U.S. lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry aligns with U.S. national interests.

A White House official noted that Trump finalized the decision after the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, saying the tragic event expedited an already pending action.President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson in a post on X.

Jackson emphasized the measures were “commonsense, country-specific”, based on insufficient identity-sharing, high visa overstay rates, and vetting deficiencies.

In a video message, Trump warned that more countries could be added to the list as global threats evolve.

The new travel restrictions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 9, the White House confirmed.

The move comes just months into Trump’s second term and builds upon an executive order signed on Day One, which directed agencies to assess countries with inadequate vetting processes for potential suspension.

Trump’s first-term travel ban, focused on majority-Muslim countries, faced court battles before being rescinded by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Among those likely to be affected are Afghan nationals, including former U.S. allies and interpreters, already caught in legal limbo due to suspended refugee resettlement programs and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) processing delays.

Governments and advocacy organizations condemned the decision. A Venezuelan minister, Diosdado Cabello, criticized the U.S. in televised remarks, warning that “being in the United States is a risk, not a reward.”

Oxfam America decried the policy as “a chilling return to fear and discrimination,” warning it would trap families in conflict zones.