Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order imposing a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, citing "national security concerns." The ban, which includes Afghanistan and Iran, will go into effect on Monday, June 9.
In addition to the full ban on these 12 countries, Trump has also announced partial travel restrictions on citizens from seven other nations.
In a video message addressing the nation, President Trump referenced a recent terror attack in Colorado as justification for the new policy. “The recent terrorist attack in Colorado proves that foreign nationals who are not properly verified pose a serious threat to our country,” he said.
The Colorado attack occurred during a rally in support of Israel, where a man injured six people. Authorities confirmed the attacker was in the U.S. illegally.
The new executive order is seen as a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy and could have serious implications for nationals of the affected countries.
The full travel ban affects citizens from the following countries:
Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Countries subject to partial restrictions include:
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
According to the White House, the travel ban is designed to protect American citizens and interests from potential terrorist threats. In his address, Trump accused individuals from “dangerous regions” of exploiting visa systems to carry out attacks in the U.S.
He also hinted that the ban may be revised in the future if the situation in the listed countries improves.
White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stated, “President Trump is committed to keeping America safe from dangerous foreign nationals who wish to do us harm.” She added that the targeted countries either lack proper background-check protocols or have high rates of visa violations.
In a parallel move, Trump has also signed executive orders restricting visas for foreign students at Harvard University, escalating tensions surrounding international education policy.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Representative Pramila Jayapal called the move "an extension of Trump’s earlier Muslim ban" and warned that it would further isolate the U.S. globally. “Banning entire communities based on disagreement with their governments is a misuse of authority,” she stated.
Congressman Don Beyer accused Trump of betraying the foundational ideals of the United States, writing on social media: “Trump’s travel ban is rooted in prejudice and fear. It doesn’t make us safer—it divides us and undermines our global leadership.”
The policy echoes Trump’s controversial 2017 travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, which faced multiple legal challenges before being upheld by the Supreme Court.
