Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reinstated a sweeping travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, reviving one of the most controversial policies from his first term.
The new executive order, signed on June 4, 2025, and effective as of June 9, bars nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the United States. An additional seven countries—including Cuba, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan—face partial restrictions on certain visa categories.
The administration cited national security concerns, particularly in the wake of a recent terror attack in Colorado allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa.
Although Egypt was not included in the ban, Trump used the incident to justify the need for stricter vetting and immigration controls. He emphasized that the affected countries either lack proper screening systems, have high visa overstay rates, or refuse to cooperate with U.S. deportation efforts.
The proclamation, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” revives the legal framework of Trump’s original 2017 travel ban, which was upheld by the Supreme Court but later repealed by President Biden in 2021.
This new version includes exemptions for lawful permanent residents, certain visa holders, and individuals whose entry is deemed in the national interest.
Critics have condemned the move as discriminatory and harmful to vulnerable populations, particularly refugees and families seeking reunification.
Human rights organizations argue that the ban disproportionately targets nations with limited resources and unstable governments, rather than addressing specific threats. Some U.S. veterans and refugee advocates have also expressed outrage over the inclusion of Afghanistan, citing the country’s role in supporting American forces during the war.
International reaction has been swift. Chad has suspended visa issuance to U.S. citizens in retaliation, while the African Union and United Nations have voiced concern over the policy’s broad scope and potential violations of international law. In the U.S., Democratic lawmakers have denounced the ban as xenophobic and counterproductive, while Trump’s supporters have praised it as a necessary step to protect national security.
The White House has stated that the list of affected countries may be revised based on improvements in vetting procedures or emerging threats.
As legal challenges loom and diplomatic tensions rise, the reinstated travel ban is poised to become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration, security, and America’s global role.
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