Trump Announces Expanded US Travel Ban Affecting 19 Countries

The United States has announced a new executive order that significantly expands travel restrictions, affecting citizens from 19 countries. Signed by President Donald Trump, the order imposes a full travel ban on 12 nations and places additional restrictions on seven others. The countries facing a full ban include Afghanistan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The order also introduces tighter controls for travellers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. According to the White House, the measure aims to enhance national security by limiting entry from countries deemed to lack sufficient vetting capabilities. It is scheduled to take effect on Monday, 9 June 2025 at 12:01am local time in Washington, DC (04:01 GMT). Existing visas issued before this date will remain valid. In a video statement, President Trump linked the policy to recent concerns over public safety, citing an attack at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado. He argued that the event highlighted the risks of inadequate screening procedures and stated that the US must prevent similar issues seen in other regions. The administration maintains that the decision is not targeted at specific nationalities or religions, but rather focuses on security criteria. However, the move is likely to prompt legal and diplomatic responses, with critics already raising concerns over its scope and implications.