In a move reminiscent of his previous administration, former President Donald Trump has introduced a travel ban restricting entry into the U.S. for nationals from 12 designated countries, citing national security as the primary reason. The ban is effective starting Monday at 12:01 a.m. (05:00 BST), aiming to prevent any disruptive chaos similar to what occurred during the 2017 ban initiation.
The affected countries include:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Additionally, there are partial travel restrictions for citizens from another seven nations: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Trump is framing this ban as "common sense restrictions" intended to safeguard Americans, especially in light of a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, which he links to inadequately vetted foreign nationals. The alleged attacker, an Egyptian national, injured multiple people while targeting a pro-Israel gathering.
The announcement prompted various reactions, both in the U.S. and abroad. Somalia's ambassador expressed a commitment to collaborate with the U.S. on security issues, while Venezuelan officials criticized the ban, stating it poses risks for all who enter America. Democratic leaders denounced the order, suggesting it isolates the U.S. internationally and undermines foundational values of the country.
Trump's earlier travel ban faced substantial backlash when it was enacted in 2017 and was labeled by critics as a "Muslim ban." It was ultimately revised and upheld by the Supreme Court two years later. However, President Joe Biden reversed the ban once he took office in 2021, calling it a controversial aspect of U.S. history.
The affected countries include:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Additionally, there are partial travel restrictions for citizens from another seven nations: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Trump is framing this ban as "common sense restrictions" intended to safeguard Americans, especially in light of a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, which he links to inadequately vetted foreign nationals. The alleged attacker, an Egyptian national, injured multiple people while targeting a pro-Israel gathering.
The announcement prompted various reactions, both in the U.S. and abroad. Somalia's ambassador expressed a commitment to collaborate with the U.S. on security issues, while Venezuelan officials criticized the ban, stating it poses risks for all who enter America. Democratic leaders denounced the order, suggesting it isolates the U.S. internationally and undermines foundational values of the country.
Trump's earlier travel ban faced substantial backlash when it was enacted in 2017 and was labeled by critics as a "Muslim ban." It was ultimately revised and upheld by the Supreme Court two years later. However, President Joe Biden reversed the ban once he took office in 2021, calling it a controversial aspect of U.S. history.
