Trump Blocks Travel to U.S. From 12 Countries in New Ban

 

Trump Blocks Travel to U.S. From 12 Countries in New Ban

President Donald Trump, citing national security concerns, issued a new executive order on June 4, 2025, prohibiting individuals from 12 nations from traveling. Entry into the United States is banned for citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The ban takes effect on June 9, 2025.
The administration announced further restrictions on travel from seven other nations in addition to the complete ban: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Among these measures are restrictions on specific visa categories and increased tracking throughout the application process.

Administration Defends Controversial Move

Trump defended the action, saying it was a necessary response to foreign governments' "deficient vetting." The move was made soon after Trump used a violent attack in Boulder, Colorado, that was allegedly committed by an Egyptian immigrant, as a reason for increasing restrictions on entry.

During a televised news briefing, Trump declared, "This is about keeping Americans safe." "We are no longer taking any chances with our security."

Exemptions Included in the Ban

Although the prohibition is broad, there are several exceptions, such as:

Lawful permanent inhabitants

Dual nationals using passports from non-banned nations

International events attended by athletes

Diplomats

People with humanitarian situations or significant family ties

Criticism and Legal Pushback Expected

Critics contend that the new order unfairly singles out nations with sizable Muslim populations and may be quickly contested in court, much like Trump's first year in office. The policy may result in discrimination and diplomatic conflict, according to civil rights advocates.

"This reminds me of the travel ban from 2017," one legal analyst stated. "There is certain to be a legal challenge to it."

Trump's previous version of the travel ban was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, and experts expect a similar legal battle.

 

This policy is similar to the contentious "Muslim ban" that was put into place during Trump's first term and that was sustained by the Supreme Court in 2018 after a number of court challenges. According to the administration, subsequent evaluations of national security threats and the nations' collaboration with U.S. immigration officials could lead to a revision of the list of impacted nations.