Trump Signs New Travel Ban Targeting Multiple Countries, Citing Security Concerns

President Donald Trump gestures after speaking during a summer soiree on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Washington

President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation implementing a sweeping travel ban affecting dozens of countries, citing national security risks and the need to protect Americans from potential threats. The proclamation, signed Wednesday evening, fully restricts entry into the United States for nationals from 12 countries and imposes partial restrictions on citizens from seven others.

The full travel ban applies to Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Meanwhile, citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial restrictions on entry.

Exceptions to the ban are outlined for lawful permanent residents, individuals already holding valid visas, specific visa categories, and those whose entry is deemed to serve the national interest of the United States.

According to administration officials, the decision to sign the proclamation was expedited by a recent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, though the measure had already been under consideration prior to the incident.

The White House has described the travel restrictions as a fulfillment of President Trump's campaign promise to secure the nation’s borders and safeguard American citizens from foreign threats. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson emphasized that the restrictions are tailored to each country’s specific risk factors, such as high visa overstay rates, inadequate identity verification processes, and failure to share threat intelligence with the United States.

“These commonsense restrictions are country-specific and include places that lack proper vetting, exhibit high visa overstay rates, or fail to share identity and threat information,” Jackson stated on social media.

In a video address released Wednesday, President Trump warned that the list of restricted countries is subject to change and could expand based on evolving global threats. “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe,” he declared.

The proclamation is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 AM on June 9.

This marks the latest in a series of immigration-related policies under Trump’s administration during his second term. On his first day back in office, the president signed an executive order directing the State Department and other relevant agencies to identify countries with inadequate vetting processes that could justify suspending entry.

During his first term, Trump implemented a controversial travel ban targeting seven majority-Muslim nations, which faced legal challenges before being repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021. The new travel ban revives and expands similar policies under a renewed national security framework.

Among the affected countries, the inclusion of Afghanistan is particularly notable. The move could further complicate resettlement efforts for Afghan nationals who worked alongside U.S. forces during the 20-year conflict. Many are already facing significant delays due to earlier executive actions, including the suspension of refugee admissions and halts to funding flights for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders.

The administration insists the policy is not a blanket ban but a targeted measure based on each country’s cooperation with U.S. security standards. However, the sweeping nature of the restrictions is expected to spark renewed legal and public debate.