U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stirred global attention by signing a new presidential proclamation that enforces a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, citing national security concerns. The sweeping decision blocks individuals from these nations from entering the United States, either temporarily or permanently, unless they meet specific exemption criteria.
The countries facing a full travel ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. However, the ban does not apply to individuals who already possess valid visas or permanent residency status in the U.S.
In addition, Trump imposed partial restrictions on citizens from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Citizens of these nations may face entry limitations depending on their visa type or travel purpose. The new policy is scheduled to take effect on Monday, June 9.
There are a few notable exemptions in the proclamation. Athletes traveling for international events such as the Olympics or the World Cup, Iranian religious or ethnic minorities with immigrant visas, Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas, and legal permanent residents in the U.S. are not affected by the ban. Dual citizens whose second nationality is from a country not listed are also exempt. Additionally, the U.S. Secretary of State retains the authority to grant waivers if an individual is deemed to serve the national interest.
This recent move recalls Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen — and sparked legal battles across the nation. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually upheld the decision in 2018 by a narrow margin, declaring the ban constitutional.
Following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, President Joe Biden reversed these restrictions shortly after taking office in 2021. Trump’s new travel ban is widely seen as a signal of his political positioning ahead of the upcoming elections.