Travel Restrictions Imposed: Citizens from 12 Nations Denied Entry to the U.S. Under Trump Administration

The new travel ban enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump came into effect immediately after midnight, prohibiting citizens from twelve nations from entering the United States. This move harkens back to a contentious policy from his first term. As President Trump stated, “The entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted poses extreme dangers to our country.”

This decision is anticipated to disrupt refugee pathways and impose further restrictions on immigration as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts against illegal entries. The affected nations, including Afghanistan and Iran, often have strained relations with the United States, while others, like Haiti and Libya, are grappling with severe crises.

In a statement last week, President Trump cited a recent attack on Jewish protesters in Colorado as a catalyst for these new restrictions. This group was demonstrating in solidarity with hostages held in Gaza when they were confronted by a man deemed to be in the country illegally after overstaying his visa.

As President Trump remarked, “That attack highlighted the urgent need to address the risks associated with foreign nationals entering our borders.” The travel ban applies to nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, as per the White House directive.

Additionally, a partial ban has been placed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, although some temporary work visas from these countries will still be permitted. Moving forward, President Trump has indicated that other nations may also be added to this list “as threats emerge around the world.”

Mehria, a 23-year-old Afghan woman seeking refugee status, expressed her despair about the new rules. “We gave up thousands of hopes and our entire lives on a promise from America, but today we are suffering one hell after another,” she shared.

The ban specifically exempts athletes competing in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, along with diplomats from the affected countries.

UN rights chief Volker Turk expressed concern, stating, “The broad and sweeping nature of the new travel ban raises significant issues from the perspective of international law.” Critics, including several Democrats, have denounced the ban as excessively harsh and unconstitutional.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian-American, turned to social media to voice her opposition: “I know the pain that Trump’s cruel and xenophobic travel bans inflict because my family has felt it firsthand. We will fight this ban with everything we have.”

Rumors surrounding the travel ban gained momentum following the Colorado incident, prompting the Trump administration to assert its commitment to pursuing any potential “terrorists” residing in the U.S. on visas. U.S. officials identified the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, as an Egyptian national who had overstayed a tourist visa and had applied for asylum in September 2022. Notably, Egypt is not included in the latest travel ban.

In his proclamation, President Trump justified the ban by stating that regions like Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and war-torn nations such as Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen lack “competent” authorities for processing passports and conducting thorough vetting. Iran’s inclusion is attributed to its status as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” while the other countries were cited due to an above-average likelihood of visa overstays.

As this situation unfolds, the implications for international relations and humanitarian pathways remain significant.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.