Trump bans nationals from 12 countries

President Donald Trump has recently signed a proclamation that bans nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing the need to protect against security threats, including foreign terrorists. The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, entry from seven other countries will be partially restricted. Trump emphasized the importance of not allowing individuals who wish to harm the country to enter, mentioning that the list of restricted countries could be revised and expanded in the future.

The proclamation, effective as of June 9, will not revoke visas issued before that date. This move follows Trump’s previous ban on travellers from seven majority-Muslim nations during his first term in office, a policy that was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Former President Joe Biden repealed the ban in 2021, calling it a “stain on our national conscience.”

Trump justified the severe restrictions on certain countries by pointing to their alleged harboring of terrorists, lack of cooperation on visa security, inability to verify travelers’ identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories, and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S. He stressed the importance of being able to vet and screen individuals seeking entry into the country safely and reliably.

The proclamation has already sparked reactions from some of the affected countries. Somalia expressed its commitment to working with the U.S. to address security concerns, while Venezuelan officials criticized the restrictions, warning their citizens of the risks of being in the U.S. Calls to officials in Myanmar and Laos for comment were not immediately returned.

This directive is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which he initiated at the beginning of his second term. The president had previously outlined his plan to restrict entry from countries deemed to pose security threats in a speech in October 2023. An executive order issued in January required stricter security vetting for foreigners seeking admission to the U.S., prompting considerations for travel restrictions on multiple countries.

As the situation continues to develop, it remains to be seen how these restrictions will impact travel and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the affected nations.