Donald Trump Announces US Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Restrictions on Seven

Thursday 05 June 2025 - 07:30

By: Zahouani Ilham

Donald Trump Announces US Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Restrictions on Seven

President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping executive order that enforces a complete travel ban on citizens from 12 nations and applies additional restrictions to individuals from seven more, according to the White House.

The full ban affects Afghanistan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, increased restrictions have been placed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Trump stated the move was necessary to safeguard the United States’ national security and public interest. The directive takes effect at 12:01 am local time in Washington, DC, on Monday, June 9, 2025. However, visas issued prior to that date will remain valid.

In a video message, Trump referenced a recent attack at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, as evidence of the risks posed by inadequately screened foreign nationals. He claimed that millions of undocumented individuals currently in the U.S. pose a threat and emphasized the need for stringent vetting processes, particularly for countries lacking reliable screening protocols.

Trump, who previously introduced a controversial travel ban during his first term in 2017, argued this latest measure is not aimed at any specific religion but is rooted in protecting national security. His original order, often labeled the "Muslim ban," barred entry from several Muslim-majority nations and faced legal challenges before being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.

In a separate action, Trump also signed an executive order suspending the entry of foreign nationals intending to study or participate in programs at Harvard University. He accused the institution of questionable foreign associations and promoting radical ideologies.

The order instructs the U.S. State Department to evaluate and potentially revoke existing visas of current Harvard students who meet the criteria outlined in the proclamation. Last month, U.S. embassies worldwide were directed to apply extra scrutiny to visa applicants connected to Harvard.

Trump’s administration had previously moved to freeze Harvard's funding, revoke its tax-exempt status, and investigate alleged discrimination against certain demographic groups. Although a court ruling blocked an earlier attempt to prevent the university from enrolling foreign students, the latest order cites a different legal basis to reassert the administration’s stance.