Trump Signs Sweeping Travel Ban Blocking Entry From 12 Nations, Citing Security Risks
President Donald Trump has announced a new travel ban effective June 9, restricting entry to the U.S. for citizens of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and others. Immigrant visas and some non-immigrant travel options will also be limited for citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, and several other nations.
Following a terror attack in Colorado involving an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, Trump warned Egypt might soon be added to the banned list. He has ordered national security officials to review Egypt’s vetting and screening procedures.
Trump emphasized the importance of strong vetting to prevent terrorists and visa overstayers from entering the country, criticizing the Biden administration’s open-door policies. He praised his previous travel restrictions, upheld by the Supreme Court, which targeted countries with poor security cooperation or high visa overstay rates.
The banned countries were chosen due to inadequate security data sharing, high overstay rates, or being linked to terrorism. For example, Iran is labeled a state sponsor of terrorism, Somalia is a terrorist safe haven, and Haiti has high visa overstay rates.
Officials involved in the decision include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others. The ban also limits visa validity and restricts immigration visa applications from these countries. However, athletes and essential personnel traveling for major sporting events like the Olympics are exempt from the restrictions. Trump stated the list may be updated depending on countries’ improvements or new security threats.
