President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that nationals from 12 countries would be banned from entering the United States.
Trump said that the ban, which primarily targets countries in Africa and the Middle East, was necessary in the name of preserving national security and to prevent terrorism in the U.S.
“As President, I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” the proclamation reads. “I remain committed to engaging with those countries willing to cooperate to improve information-sharing and identity-management procedures, and to address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks.”
Who is banned?
Citizens of the following countries will be blocked from entering the United States: Afghanistan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition to the 12 countries listed above, nationals of the following seven countries will be barred from coming to the country permanently or entering under several visa programs: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
When does the ban take effect?
The executive goes into effect at 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on June 9, 2025.
Why now?
A similar policy implemented during the first Trump administration, which barred foreigners from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the country, was reversed by former President Joe Biden.
On the campaign trail, Trump promised he would revive the ban.
In a Wednesday video the White House posted on YouTube, Trump cited the recent attack in Boulder as justification for a travel ban renewal.
“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,” Trump said. We don’t want them.”
On Sunday, a man was accused of using a “makeshift flamethrower” and Molotov cocktails on a group of people peacefully calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The suspect in connection with the incident, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, entered the U.S. from Egypt on a tourist visa, according to officials.
Egypt is not one of the countries affected by the policy.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. The travel ban will not affect nationals who are already lawful permanent residents of the U.S. In other words, the proclamation will not apply to nationals from the list of banned countries who have green cards or who are living in the U.S. with a visa.
It will also not affect citizens of the banned countries who have citizenship in a second country and are entering the U.S. with a passport from an unrestricted nation.
Other exemptions include Afghans who helped the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan, ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, athletes from banned countries who are entering the U.S for the World Cup or the Olympics, and children who are being adopted.
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