Trump Imposes Travel Restrictions Affecting 12 Countries Amid Security Concerns
The U.S. President enacts a ban on travel from a dozen nations and partial restrictions on seven others due to alleged security risks.
On June 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a significant travel ban affecting 12 countries, citing security threats as the primary reason for the directive.
In a presidential proclamation accompanied by a video statement, Trump pointed to a recent attack during a march in Boulder, Colorado, advocating for Israeli hostages in Gaza as evidence of the dangers posed by unvetted foreign nationals.
President Trump stated, "Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States." He emphasized that the strength of the restrictions would correspond to the severity of the perceived threats.
The White House indicated that the directive followed a review of a report from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials, highlighting inadequate screening practices in certain countries, high rates of visa overstays, and a lack of cooperation in sharing identity and threat information as key factors influencing the decision.
The countries subject to the complete travel ban are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, seven other nations, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, will experience partial restrictions that limit the entry of their nationals.
These measures are set to take effect at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on the upcoming Monday.
This announcement marks the latest development in ongoing debates regarding U.S. immigration policy and national security.
In a presidential proclamation accompanied by a video statement, Trump pointed to a recent attack during a march in Boulder, Colorado, advocating for Israeli hostages in Gaza as evidence of the dangers posed by unvetted foreign nationals.
President Trump stated, "Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States." He emphasized that the strength of the restrictions would correspond to the severity of the perceived threats.
The White House indicated that the directive followed a review of a report from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials, highlighting inadequate screening practices in certain countries, high rates of visa overstays, and a lack of cooperation in sharing identity and threat information as key factors influencing the decision.
The countries subject to the complete travel ban are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, seven other nations, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, will experience partial restrictions that limit the entry of their nationals.
These measures are set to take effect at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on the upcoming Monday.
This announcement marks the latest development in ongoing debates regarding U.S. immigration policy and national security.