US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing the need to protect against foreign terrorists and security threats, according to CBS News. The new travel restrictions take effect on June 9, 2025.
The countries fully banned include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial restrictions.
Trump explained the decision by stating, “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.” He noted the list could be adjusted as new security risks emerge. Visas issued before the cutoff date will remain valid.
This action follows Trump’s earlier travel bans during his first term, which targeted seven majority-Muslim countries and was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The previous ban was repealed by former President Joe Biden in 2021, who described it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
The proclamation targets countries Trump said harbor terrorist activities, have poor visa security cooperation, or fail to verify traveler identities. He added that the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an individual threw a petrol bomb at pro-Israel demonstrators, exemplifies the ongoing threats. The attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, had overstayed his visa, highlighting concerns over visa overstays and security.
Somalia, one of the countries on the full ban list, expressed willingness to engage with the US to address security concerns. Dahir Hassan Abdi, Somalia’s ambassador to the US, said, “Somalia values its long-standing relationship with the US and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised.”
The proclamation is part of a broader immigration security initiative launched by Trump at the start of his second term. It follows an executive order in January requiring stricter vetting for foreigners applying for US entry. The administration’s vetting process identifies countries with deficient security information, leading to these travel restrictions.
Article updated 4 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
