AhlulBayt News Agency: US President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping executive order imposing a complete travel ban on nationals from 12 countries, while restricting entry for travelers from seven additional nations.
The directive is part of an immigration crackdown launched by Trump at the start of his second term.
The banned countries include Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial travel restrictions.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump stated in a video posted on X.
He noted that the list could be revised, with new countries potentially added.
The proclamation takes effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT (0401 GMT). However, visas issued before this date will not be revoked, according to the order.
Trump cited a recent attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, as justification for the ban, claiming it highlighted the dangers posed by foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.
He further asserted that “millions and millions of these illegals should not be in our country.”
“We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America,” Trump declared, adding that the US cannot allow open migration from countries where proper vetting is not possible.
The Trump administration has intensified restrictions on student and visitor visa holders, particularly those perceived as critical of US foreign policy or sympathetic toward Palestinians.
In January, Trump signed an order mandating enhanced security screening for all foreign nationals applying for US entry to identify potential security risks.
In March, Reuters reported that the administration was evaluating additional travel bans affecting multiple countries.
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration would begin “aggressively revoking visas for Chinese students”, particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying sensitive academic fields.
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