Trump Enforces Sweeping Travel Ban on 12 Nations Over Terror Threats

Trump Imposes New Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Citing National Security Threats

Washington D.C., June 5, 2025 — In a major move aimed at tightening border controls, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States. The decision, which he says is necessary to protect the country from foreign terrorists and other threats, will come into effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

The countries facing a full travel ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial restrictions.

Trump made the announcement via a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), where he stated, “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.” He added that the list could change in the future if countries improve their security and cooperation on visa matters.

According to the proclamation, countries were selected based on several factors including the presence of terrorist groups, failure to share key information with U.S. authorities, poor identity verification systems, lack of criminal records, and a high rate of visa overstays. Visas issued before the ban takes effect will remain valid and will not be canceled.

The new order follows Trump’s earlier executive order from January 20, which called for stricter vetting of foreign nationals. This new travel ban builds upon that directive and is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown since returning to office for a second term.

Trump also cited a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly threw a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel protesters. Although Egypt is not among the banned countries, Soliman had overstayed his visa and had an expired work permit. Trump used the case to highlight the risks of poor visa enforcement.

International Reactions

The announcement has triggered mixed reactions from around the world. Somalia, one of the affected countries, responded swiftly. Somali Ambassador to the U.S., Dahir Hassan Abdi, said the country values its relationship with the U.S. and is open to discussing security improvements.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro, criticized the decision, calling the U.S. government “fascist.” He warned Venezuelans about the dangers of living in the United States, claiming they are being unfairly targeted.

Efforts to reach government officials from Myanmar and Laos for comment were unsuccessful.

Background

During his first term in 2017, Trump had imposed a controversial travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries. That ban underwent legal battles before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. President Joe Biden reversed that policy in 2021, calling it discriminatory.

Now, Trump has revived and expanded the approach, arguing that national security must come first. “We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet those seeking to enter,” he said.

The move is expected to spark political debate and legal challenges in the coming weeks.