Trump Slaps Travel Ban On 12 Countries

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban, reminiscent of a controversial measure from his first term, targeting 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on seven others.

This decision, announced in a video message from the Oval Office, was spurred by a makeshift flamethrower attack in Boulder, Colorado, which US authorities attributed to an individual they claim was in the country illegally.

The full ban prohibits all travel to the United States by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additionally, a partial ban was imposed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, though some temporary work visas from these nations will still be permitted.1 The bans are scheduled to go into effect on Monday.

Trump stated, “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. We don’t want them.”

He compared these new measures to the “powerful” ban from his first term, which he asserted prevented terror attacks in the United States that occurred in Europe.

He emphasized, “We will not let what happened in Europe happen in America,” and “We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen.”

Notably, the ban will not apply to athletes participating in the 2026 World Cup (co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico) or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Separately, Trump also announced a ban on visas for foreign students intending to attend Harvard University, escalating his crackdown on what he perceives as a bastion of liberalism.

The White House unveiled the new ban with little warning. Rumors of such a ban had circulated following the Colorado attack, with the administration vowing to pursue “terrorists” residing in the US on visas.

The suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, is alleged to have thrown firebombs and sprayed burning gasoline at supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

US Homeland Security officials stated Soliman was in the country illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa, despite having applied for asylum in September 2022.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stated, “President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm.”

Trump’s proclamation provided specific reasons for including each country.

For Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and war-torn Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, it cited a lack of “competent” central authorities for passport processing and vetting.

Iran was included due to its designation as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” despite ongoing nuclear deal negotiations. For most other banned countries, the order cited an above-average likelihood of visa overstays

Venezuela responded by warning its citizens that the United States itself was a dangerous destination.

“Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans,” said Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

The new travel ban is expected to face legal challenges, similar to other drastic measures implemented during Trump’s return to office.

National Iranian American Council president Jamal Abdi commented, “The impact of the ban will once again be felt by Americans who were denied the ability to see their loved ones at weddings, funerals, or the birth of a child.”

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