Security: Trump restricts entry of travellers from over two dozen countries
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Continuing his crackdown on illegal immigrants and travellers, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced restrictions on travellers from over two dozen countries, effective June 9.
He signed a presidential proclamation restricting travel from these countries, citing national security risks and the need for improved vetting measures, CNN reported.
The new directive imposed full travel bans on nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Eritrea.
Another seven countries—among them Cuba, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan—face partial restrictions.
The proclamation exempts lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, and individuals whose entry is deemed in the national interest of the United States, the media reported.
A White House official said the decision came in the wake of the latest antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, which accelerated the timeline for the announcement. While the policy was being considered for weeks, Sunday’s violence reportedly prompted President Trump to act swiftly.
The White House characterised the new restrictions as a fulfilment of Trump’s election campaign pledge to safeguard Americans from “dangerous foreign actors.”
“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”
The proclamation will become effective at 12:01 am on June 9.
In a video posted on social media, President Trump also hinted that the list of countries could be expanded if new threats arise, stating, “We will not allow those people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.”
During his first term (2017-21) also, he had issued a controversial travel ban targeting several majority-Muslim countries, a move that sparked legal battles and was ultimately reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
The reinstatement of restrictions on Afghanistan could have significant consequences for Afghans who previously assisted the US military and are currently awaiting Special Immigrant Visas.
CNN reported that on his first day back in office, Trump had directed cabinet officials to evaluate and list countries lacking sufficient security and identity-sharing protocols. The Wednesday proclamation appears to be the result of that review process.
