On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation prohibiting citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing the need to safeguard against "foreign terrorists" and other security risks. This directive is part of an immigration enforcement initiative that Trump initiated at the beginning of his second term. The crackdown has involved the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of gang affiliations to El Salvador, as well as attempts to restrict enrolment for certain foreign students and deport others.
The latest travel ban affects the following countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, entry from seven other nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will face partial restrictions.
In a video shared on X, Trump stated, "We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm." He also mentioned that the list could be updated and that new countries might be added.
The proclamation will take effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). According to the order, visas issued prior to this date will remain valid.
On Thursday, the African Union Commission voiced its concerns regarding the possible adverse effects of the new travel ban on educational exchanges, commercial interactions, and overall diplomatic relations. In a statement, the Commission urged the U.S. administration to adopt a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the affected countries.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump implemented a ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries. This policy underwent several changes before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. In 2021, former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, revoked the ban on nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, describing it as "a stain on our national conscience". Trump justified the strict restrictions on these countries by citing their alleged harbouring of a "large-scale presence of terrorists", lack of cooperation on visa security, inability to verify travellers' identities, poor record-keeping of criminal histories, and high rates of visa overstays in the United States.
"We cannot allow unrestricted migration from any country where we cannot effectively and securely vet those wishing to enter the United States," Trump stated. He referenced the incident in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, where a man threw a gasoline bomb into a group of pro-Israel demonstrators, as a reason for the necessity of the new restrictions.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been charged in connection with the attack. Federal officials reported that Soliman had overstayed his tourist visa and possessed an expired work permit, despite Egypt not being among the countries subject to travel restrictions.
Somalia has quickly committed to collaborating with the U.S. to tackle security concerns. "Somalia values its long-standing relationship with the United States and is prepared to engage in discussions to address the issues raised," stated Dahir Hassan Abdi, the Somali ambassador to the U.S.
On Wednesday evening, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro, labeled the U.S. government as fascist and cautioned Venezuelans about the dangers of being in the United States. "The reality is that being in the United States poses a significant risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans... They unjustly persecute our compatriots," he stated.
A spokesperson for the Taliban-led Afghan foreign ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Similarly, Pakistan’s foreign ministry has yet to reply regarding its plans for the thousands of Afghans in Islamabad awaiting U.S. resettlement.
Calls made early Thursday to the spokesperson for Myanmar's military government went unanswered.
The travel ban poses a significant obstacle for a 31-year-old teacher from Myanmar, who had planned to participate in a U.S. State Department exchange program set to begin in September.
"It’s not easy to apply or get accepted, as we needed several letters of recommendation," said the teacher, currently residing in Thailand, who requested anonymity due to her pending visa application.
"In my case, I would have the opportunity to work at universities that offer digital education," she explained, noting that she has not received any updates from the program since Trump's announcement
Trump's presidential campaign emphasised a stringent border policy, which he outlined in a speech in October 2023. He committed to limiting entry for individuals from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and "anywhere else that poses a threat to our security." On January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating enhanced security vetting for all foreigners applying to enter the U.S. to identify potential national security risks. CBS News was the first to report on the latest travel restrictions. Additionally, in March, Reuters revealed that the Trump administration was contemplating travel restrictions affecting numerous countries.
