Trump Imposes New‍ Travel Ban Citing⁣ Security Risks

⁣ Updated June 05, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed a new order banning travel to the U.S. from ‍12 countries, citing national
​ security risks.⁤ Nationals from seven​ additional countries will face partial travel restrictions. This marks the
⁢ second time Trump has implemented such a ban; a similar order was signed in 2017 during his first term.

The White House‍ indicated the list could be revised if “material⁣ improvements” are made,and additional
‌ ‍ ⁢ countries could be added as “threats​ emerge around the world.” The new travel ban takes effect Monday at 12:01
⁢ ⁤ a.m. EST.

Which⁣ countries face the new travel ban?

The proclamation restricts entry for nationals from the‍ following 12 countries:

• Afghanistan
• Myanmar
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

Partial travel restrictions will be applied to nationals from these seven additional countries:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

Justification for the travel Restrictions

According to the White House, these “common⁤ sense restrictions” aim to “protect Americans from risky
foreign actors.” ‍Trump, in a video posted to Truth Social, linked the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, to
‌ ⁣ ⁤ the need for stricter vetting of foreign nationals. The incident, in​ which 12 ‍people⁢ where injured, involved a
⁢ man identified ⁤as⁣ an Egyptian national, ⁤though​ Egypt is ​not on the list of banned countries.

Exemptions to the Travel Ban

Certain individuals from affected countries may still ‌be able to enter the U.S. These exemptions ⁢include:

• Athletes traveling for major sporting events, such as the 2026 World Cup or ⁤the 2028 olympics.
• Holders of “immigrant visas for ⁢ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.”
• Afghan nationals holding Special Immigrant Visas.
• Any “lawful ‌permanent resident” of the U.S.
• Dual nationals who have citizenship in countries not included in the travel ban.

The Secretary of State may also grant exemptions on a “case-by-case” ‍basis if it serves a U.S. national
interest.

Reactions to the New​ Travel Ban

The order has already drawn criticism and is expected to face legal challenges.Somalia has pledged to work
‍ with the ‍U.S. to address security concerns. Somali Ambassador to the U.S., ‌Dahir Hassan⁤ Abdi, affirmed his
⁤ country’s commitment to it’s relationship with ⁣America.

Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello cautioned that⁤ “being in the United‌ States is a⁣ great risk for
‌ anyone,not just‌ for Venezuelans.”

Democrats have largely condemned the move. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) stated the ban⁣ “will only‌ further
⁣ ⁤isolate us on the world stage.” Rep.⁣ Don Beyer (D-Va.)⁢ accused Trump of betraying the ​ideals of the U.S.’
founders.

Human rights groups have also voiced opposition. Amnesty International​ USA called the ban “discriminatory,
‌ ⁣ racist, and⁣ downright cruel,” while Human Rights First described it as “yet another ​anti-immigrant⁤ and punitive
​ action.”

Previous Travel Ban

Trump’s initial travel ban in ⁢2017 included ‌some of the same⁢ countries as ⁣the ‌current order, such as Iran,
⁢ ‍ Libya, and Somalia. It faced immediate legal challenges ⁤and was labeled a “Muslim ban” due to the majority-Muslim
⁢ countries​ initially ⁢listed. The policy was later revised to include north Korea and Venezuela and​ was upheld by
the Supreme Court⁣ in 2018. President Joe Biden repealed the ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national
conscience.”

What’s next

Legal challenges are anticipated, and ‌the political fallout is expected to intensify as the ban takes effect.
The long-term impact‌ on international relations and immigration policies remains to be seen.