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U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation banning citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing national security concerns. The decision, which takes effect on June 9, 2025, is part of a broader immigration crackdown during his second term.
According to Trump, the ban is meant to protect the country from potential terrorists and people who may pose other security threats. The affected countries are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition to the full ban, the U.S. will place partial restrictions on people from seven more countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video posted on social media. He added that the list of banned countries could be updated in the future.
The new order states that people who already have valid U.S. visas issued before June 9 will still be allowed to enter. However, new visa applications from the listed countries will be affected.
This latest move is similar to a travel ban Trump introduced during his first term in 2017, which targeted mostly Muslim-majority countries. That earlier ban was challenged in court but eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he reversed that policy, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.”
In explaining the new ban, Trump said the listed countries either have a strong presence of terrorist groups, poor systems for tracking criminal records, or fail to properly cooperate with U.S. authorities on visa security. He also pointed out that many travelers from these countries tend to overstay their visas.
“We can’t allow open immigration from countries that cannot verify who their travelers are or provide reliable background checks,” Trump stated.
Trump referenced a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where a man threw a gasoline bomb into a group of pro-Israel protesters. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa and had no valid work permit. Although Egypt was not on the list of banned countries, Trump said the case shows why stronger controls are necessary.
Some countries have already responded to the new travel ban. Somalia expressed a willingness to work with the U.S. to address the concerns. “Somalia values its relationship with the United States and is ready for dialogue,” said Somali Ambassador Dahir Hassan Abdi.
On the other hand, Venezuela reacted strongly. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called the U.S. government “fascist” and said that living in the United States is dangerous for Venezuelans. “They persecute our people for no reason,” he said.
Officials from some of the affected countries, including Afghanistan and Myanmar, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The new restrictions could impact individuals with personal or professional ties to the U.S. A teacher from Myanmar who was selected for a U.S. State Department exchange program said she is now unsure if she can go. “It’s very hard to get into this program. We worked hard to get recommendations and pass interviews,” she said.
Trump had hinted at expanding travel restrictions during a 2023 campaign speech. In January 2025, he also signed an executive order calling for stronger background checks on all foreign visitors.
This new travel ban is part of a wider immigration policy under Trump’s administration, which also includes increased deportations and tighter rules for foreign students.
The restrictions were first reported by CBS News, and additional coverage came from Reuters in March, which mentioned that Trump was considering travel limits on more countries.