US President Donald Trump Announces Broad Travel Ban Targeting 19 Countries
Washington, 5th June 2025: US President Donald Trump, six months into his presidency, announced a sweeping travel ban on Wednesday targeting nationals from 19 countries. This ban, issued through a presidential proclamation, establishes a three-tier system with escalating entry restrictions based on concerns over national security, immigration violations, and terrorism links.
The announcement followed a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national was arrested after attacking Jewish protesters. In a video message, Trump cited this incident as evidence of the dangers posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals, stating, “We don’t want them.”
The travel ban restricts or limits entry for citizens from countries with poor vetting systems, high visa overstay rates, or ties to terrorism. It builds on an earlier executive order aimed at tightening the screening of travelers from countries with deficient immigration controls.
The proclamation fully restricts entry from twelve countries deemed high risk, including Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These countries are criticized for lacking competent authorities to issue travel documents or for having significant visa overstay rates. Additionally, some like Iran and Cuba are labeled as state sponsors of terrorism.
Seven additional countries, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, face partial restrictions due to elevated risks. The travel ban will not apply to athletes participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The ban is set to take effect from Monday, with Trump emphasizing that the list of restricted countries could change depending on improvements in security and cooperation or emerging threats worldwide. He explained that the ban is based on foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives.
This move represents one of the most aggressive immigration policies in recent US history, aiming to tighten border controls by targeting nations with perceived security risks, poor immigration cooperation, and high visa violation rates, potentially affecting millions seeking to enter the United States.
