US President Donald Trump has approved a new travel ban targeting citizens of 12 countries, effectively blocking them from entering the US, with the order set to take effect on June 9, 2025, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Countries facing full entry restrictions include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, with citizens from these nations being denied entry across all travel categories.
The White House states that the directive is part of Trump’s broader agenda to enhance U.S. immigration controls during his second term, following an earlier security order signed on January 20 that instructed top cabinet officials to review foreign governments’ compliance with U.S. vetting standards.
In addition to the ban, the Trump administration imposed partial restrictions on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, subjecting them to increased scrutiny, including fewer visa approvals and more rigorous background checks.
President Trump explained that the banned countries harbor terrorist organizations, have inadequate identity management systems, or refuse to cooperate with the US in verifying the criminal or immigration history of their citizens.
Trump also cited the high rate of visa overstays by nationals from the listed countries as another major reason for implementing the ban.
“This action is about protecting American citizens and our national security,” the president said. “We must ensure that those entering our country are properly screened and do not pose a threat.”
This latest move is reminiscent of Trump’s contentious 2017 travel ban, which targeted several countries with predominantly Muslim populations, sparking widespread protests and legal challenges before being upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
The policy was later reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021, who deemed it discriminatory and counterproductive.
With Trump back in office, his administration seems determined to revive and broaden stringent immigration restrictions as a key component of its national security strategy.
