Trump bans citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a travel ban on Wednesday that will prevent citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, thus reinstating one of the most controversial measures of his first term.

The travel ban affects Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The measure also partially restricts access to people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. The ban takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m.

“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” said Trump in his proclamation. Earlier this week, he had blamed former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies for the Boulder attack against demonstrators showing support for the hostages being held by Hamas. The suspect was from Egypt, a country that has not been included on the list of banned countries.

But Trump used that attack as a pretext for the measure. In a video message shared on the White House’s X account, the president said that “the recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas. We don’t want them.”

He added that in the 21st century, the country has witnessed “one terror attack after another” carried out by “foreign visa stayers from dangerous places.” He blamed this on his predecessor Joe Biden’s “open-door” policies, and said that the United States will not allow “what happened in Europe” to happen to the U.S., in what appeared to be a reference to Islamist terrorist attacks.

The first travel ban imposed by the Republican president in his first term was enacted in 2017 and banned citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. After several court challenges, the order was modified until the Supreme Court upheld a version in 2018.

Exceptions

The initial 2017 order generated chaos and confusion. Travelers from those countries were prevented from boarding their U.S.-bound flights or were detained at U.S. airports after landing. There were students and teachers, entrepreneurs, tourists and people visiting friends and family. Authorities had to clarify that legal U.S. residents from those countries could enter the country. Biden revoked those orders when he took office.

The new travel ban includes some exceptions. Foreigners who are legal permanent residents in the United States (those who have the so-called green card) will be able to enter. Those with dual citizenship will also be able to enter if they use the passport of the country that is not vetoed. For example, a Venezuelan national who also has Spanish citizenship may enter with the Spanish passport, with or without a visa, depending on the circumstances (it is not required for tourists, but it is for students).

Athletes coming to participate in the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Olympic Games, or other high-level competitions will also be able to enter the country. Other exceptions allow visas for family members of U.S. citizens, U.S. collaborators in Afghanistan or religiously persecuted persons in Iran. Refugees who have been granted asylum will not lose the validity of their visas.

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