Trump Signs New Travel Ban for Many Countries

President Donald Trump has signed a new rule to stop people from nearly 20 countries from entering the U.S. He says this is to make America safer from foreign threats. The rule starts on June 9.

This rule completely stops people from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran, and Somalia. Seven other countries will have some travel limits, like Cuba and Venezuela. But some people, like those with green cards or certain visas, can still come.

A White House official said this ban was planned for months. However, a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, made Trump announce it sooner. A White House helper said Trump is keeping his promise to protect Americans from dangerous people.

Trump said more countries could be added later if new threats appear. He said, "We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm."

This new ban is like his older one from 2017. Some people are very worried, especially about Afghanistans who helped the U.S. military. Critics say it's unfair and will hurt families needing safety. Many groups are speaking out against it.

Trump Enacts New Travel Ban Affecting Nearly 20 Nations, Citing Security Concerns

President Donald Trump has issued a new presidential proclamation imposing travel restrictions on citizens from nearly 20 countries. The administration states this measure aims to enhance national security and shield Americans from foreign threats. The directive, signed Wednesday evening, becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on June 9.

According to the White House, the proclamation entirely restricts entry for nationals from 12 nations: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will face partial travel restrictions. Exceptions are noted for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, and individuals qualifying under specific visa categories or national interest waivers.

A senior White House official indicated that while President Trump had long considered this action, Sunday’s antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, accelerated its announcement. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson affirmed Trump's commitment to "protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors," adding these "commonsense restrictions" target nations lacking proper vetting or sharing of threat information. Trump emphasized that the list could expand based on emerging global threats.

This proclamation echoes Trump’s rigid immigration policies from his first term, notably the controversial 2017 executive order affecting several Muslim-majority countries. That policy faced extensive legal challenges and was later revoked by President Joe Biden. The current proclamation builds on Trump’s earlier directive to assess countries with insufficient screening standards.

The inclusion of Afghanistan is particularly contentious, potentially hindering Afghan allies who assisted U.S. forces and are awaiting Special Immigrant Visas. Critics, including Shawn Vandiver of #AfghanEvac, view the policy as a strategic move harming vulnerable families seeking lawful entry.

Trump Imposes Expansive Travel Ban Encompassing Two Dozen Nations, Citing Enhanced National Security Imperatives

President Donald Trump has enacted a new presidential proclamation, slated to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 9, that imposes stringent travel restrictions on nationals from nearly 20 countries. The administration frames this sweeping directive as a critical measure to bolster national security and safeguard American citizens from perceived foreign threats.

As outlined by the White House, the mandate unequivocally bars entry for individuals from 12 nations: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Concurrently, partial travel restrictions will be levied against seven additional countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The proclamation notably includes provisions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, and allows for potential waivers under specific visa categories or demonstrably compelling U.S. national interest circumstances.

A senior White House official indicated that while this policy had been under extensive consideration for months, the timing of its announcement was accelerated by the recent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson asserted President Trump's unwavering commitment to "protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors," characterizing the restrictions as "commonsense" and specifically targeting nations deficient in vetting protocols, exhibiting high visa overstay rates, or failing to share critical identity and threat intelligence. President Trump himself, in a Wednesday evening video, underscored the dynamic nature of the list, allowing for revisions based on material improvements or the emergence of new global threats, reaffirming the administration's resolute stance against admitting individuals deemed a threat to national security.

This proclamation signifies a robust continuation of Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, drawing parallels to his contentious 2017 executive order that targeted several Muslim-majority nations – a policy met with widespread protests and legal challenges before its rescission by President Joe Biden in 2021. The current directive builds upon an earlier executive order signed on Trump's first day back in office, which mandated an assessment of countries with inadequate vetting and screening standards.

The inclusion of Afghanistan has emerged as a particularly contentious facet, raising grave concerns about its potential impact on Afghan allies who provided crucial assistance to U.S. forces during two decades of military engagement. Many of these individuals have been awaiting entry under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, already hampered by previous Trump-era suspensions of refugee admissions and funding reductions. Shawn Vandiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, vehemently criticized the policy, labeling it "a strategic move, not a response to an immediate threat," and cautioning its disproportionate adverse effects on vulnerable families seeking lawful entry.

The decision has predictably elicited strong condemnation from numerous foreign governments and prominent humanitarian organizations. Venezuela’s Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, articulated profound disdain for the policy. Oxfam America's President and CEO, Abby Maxman, issued a forceful denunciation, characterizing the proclamation as "a chilling return to policies of fear, discrimination, and division" that compel individuals fleeing persecution to remain in perilous conditions. While the Trump administration contends the policy is judiciously tailored to national security imperatives and specific risk factors, critics broadly perceive it as perpetuating exclusionary policies that fundamentally contravene humanitarian principles and international cooperation. As the implementation date approaches, legal analysts and advocacy groups are poised for potential judicial challenges, while affected families globally confront renewed uncertainty regarding their futures.