The measures are meant to protect the country from “foreign terrorists,” the US president has claimed
US President Donald Trump has barred citizens of 12 countries from entering the country, including nationals from Afghanistan, Iran, and Yemen, citing national security concerns. The proclamation, signed by Trump on Wednesday, also imposes travel restrictions on nationals from seven additional states, including Cuba and Venezuela.
The document lists “aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes”
A full travel ban, effective June 9, will apply to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Partial restrictions will affect travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The listed countries allegedly either host terrorist organizations, fail to cooperate on security matters, have high visa overstay rates, or have refused to accept deportees.
Exceptions will apply to lawful permanent US residents, dual nationals, diplomats, athletes and their relatives attending major sporting events, and those with family or adoption immigrant visas. Additional exemptions cover Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas — typically issued to those who worked with the US military — and Iranians already holding visas or belonging to religious or ethnic minorities the US considers persecuted.
The document labels Iran and Cuba as a “state sponsors of terrorism,” accusing them of failing to cooperate with the US on security issues. Venezuela, meanwhile, is under sanctions over alleged election rigging and is accused of lacking a competent passport authority and screening systems.
Human rights groups and foreign governments, who view it as discriminatory and politically motivated, have criticised the legislation.
Trump cited Sunday’s attack in Boulder, Colorado, where Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly threw a gasoline bomb at pro-Israel demonstrators, as evidence for the need for new restrictions, noting that Soliman had overstayed his tourist visa and held an expired work permit.
Trump imposed a similar travel ban in 2017 during his first term as president, which faced legal challenges and was revised multiple times before President Joe Biden revoked it in 2021.
