Trump travel ban in effect, citizens from 12 nations barred from US

Early Monday morning, President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban officially took effect, immediately blocking entry into the United States for citizens of twelve countries. This policy marks a revival of a controversial approach from his first term, aiming to tighten immigration controls and disrupt refugee resettlement.

The new restrictions cover nations with strained relations with the U.S., including Iran and Afghanistan, as well as countries facing significant humanitarian crises such as Haiti and Libya. According to the White House, the decision was prompted by a recent violent incident in Colorado, where a group protesting in support of Gaza hostages was attacked by a man who had overstayed his visa. President Trump cited the attack as evidence of the risks posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals and visa overstays.

Under the ban, nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are prohibited from entering the U.S. Additionally, a partial ban applies to travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, with some temporary work visas still available for these countries. The administration also warned that more nations could be added if new security threats arise.

For many affected individuals, the ban has created a cloud of uncertainty. Mehria, a 23-year-old Afghan woman seeking refugee status, expressed her frustration, saying, “We sacrificed everything based on America’s promise, and now we are left to suffer endless hardships.”

There are exceptions to the ban: athletes traveling for the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are exempt. Diplomats from the listed countries are also not affected.

International and domestic responses to the ban have been sharply critical. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk raised concerns about the ban’s wide-ranging scope potentially violating international law. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. condemned the move as harsh and unconstitutional. Iranian-American Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari shared her personal pain on social media, pledging to fight against what she called a “cruel and xenophobic” policy.

Following the attack in Colorado, rumors circulated about new immigration restrictions targeting visa overstayers. Authorities identified the suspect as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian who had entered on a tourist visa but remained illegally while applying for asylum since September 2022. Notably, Egypt is not included in the new ban.

The administration justified the exclusions by stating that Afghanistan under Taliban control and conflict-ridden countries such as Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen lack “competent” government institutions to properly issue travel documents and vet applicants. Iran was singled out due to its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. For the other nations on the list, the administration cited higher-than-average visa overstay rates.