ISLAMABAD (PEN) : U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation barring nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, a move he says is aimed at strengthening national security against foreign threats. The order, signed on Wednesday, will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on June 9, 2025.
Full Travel Ban Imposed on 12 Nations
The new directive applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, whose entry to the U.S. will now be fully restricted. Additionally, individuals from seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will face partial restrictions under the order.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Trump stated: “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.” He added that the list is subject to review and could be expanded based on future assessments.
Justification Rooted in National Security
According to the proclamation, the affected countries were identified based on several criteria: presence of terrorist organizations, poor cooperation with U.S. authorities on visa matters, inability to verify travelers’ identities, and high rates of visa overstays. Trump emphasized: “We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States.”
The directive also cited a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, involving an Egyptian national as justification for the heightened restrictions. The suspect, charged in a gasoline bomb incident, had overstayed his U.S. tourist visa—though Egypt is not currently on the ban list.
International Reactions Begin to Surface
Governments and officials from the affected countries are beginning to respond. Somalia’s ambassador to the U.S., Dahir Hassan Abdi, said: “Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised.”
In Venezuela, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello denounced the move, calling the U.S. government “fascist” and warned Venezuelans: “Being in the United States is a big risk for anybody, not just for Venezuelans.”
Several other nations impacted by the ban, including Myanmar, Laos, and Afghanistan, did not immediately respond to media inquiries.
Policy Echoes Earlier Travel Ban
The latest measure marks a continuation of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown during his second term. It closely mirrors the controversial travel restrictions implemented during his first term, which primarily targeted Muslim-majority countries and were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.
That earlier policy was reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021, who called it “a stain on our national conscience.”
Sweeping Immigration Changes Since January
Since returning to office, Trump has launched multiple initiatives aimed at tightening immigration controls. These include an executive order signed on January 20 mandating increased security screening for all foreign nationals, as well as the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans allegedly linked to gang activity.
Wednesday’s proclamation follows that directive, requiring the heads of several federal departments to identify nations with “deficient” traveler screening processes. The travel bans are reportedly based on those assessments, as first reported by CBS News and later confirmed by Reuters.
