U.S President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, instituting a travel ban on 12 countries, the majority of which are located in Africa and the Middle East.
The move marks a return to the firm immigration stand that defined much of Trump’s first term in office.
The ban, which takes effect Monday, prohibits citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the United States.
Additionally, the administration imposed partial restrictions on travellers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Nationals from those countries will not be eligible for permanent residency or for tourist and student visas.
In a video statement, Trump said the ban is necessary to protect national security in the wake of recent global events.
“The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, underscores the extreme dangers posed by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who overstay their visas. We don’t want them,” Trump said on X.
The Boulder attack, allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national, prompted renewed calls from Trump administration officials for stricter immigration enforcement. Despite this, Egypt is not among the countries listed in the ban.
This latest travel ban echoes a similar policy from Trump’s first term, which sparked widespread protests and a series of legal challenges.
Despite expected legal opposition, Trump’s advisers believe the revised ban will hold up in court and resonate with his base as he continues to campaign on promises of tighter border control and reduced immigration.
