President Trump announced a travel ban Wednesday on 12 countries and a partial ban on seven others.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
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Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
President Trump recently implemented a travel ban targeting travelers from 12 countries and partially restricting travelers from seven others, set to take effect on Monday, June 9.
The White House cited national security concerns and the lack of proper screening and vetting capabilities in the affected countries as the rationale for the ban.
The full ban applies to foreign nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, while the partial ban applies to individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
In a video statement posted on social media, Trump referenced a recent firebombing attack in Boulder, Colo., as a driving force behind the decision to implement the ban, despite the attacker not being from any of the listed countries.
Trump emphasized the need for the ban by stating, “In the 21st century, we’ve seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world.”
Shawn VanDiver from #AfghanEvac expressed concerns that the ban would hinder the safety of tens of thousands of Afghans with pending cases, including family members, who may be blocked from seeking refuge in the United States.
The inception of the travel ban
The current travel ban was initiated through an executive order signed by Trump upon his return to office, aiming to suspend travel from countries with deficient vetting and screening information.
The order also sought to review the admission of individuals from these countries during the Biden administration, potentially revoking their visas retroactively.
Trump had campaigned on reinstating the travel ban from his first term, touting its success in preventing terrorist threats.
The origins of the initial ban were marked by controversy and legal battles.
Following Trump’s call for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” during his early presidential campaign, an executive order was signed on Jan. 27, 2017, barring travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Despite revisions and legal challenges, the ban faced opposition and was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision, expanding the list of restricted countries beyond Muslim-majority nations.
Upon taking office, President Joe Biden revoked the travel ban, only for it to be reinstated by Trump shortly after.
The ongoing debate surrounding the travel ban reflects the complexities of national security policies and immigration regulations.
