Trump’s New Travel Ban Takes Effect for 12 Countries

[Social Media]

 

President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban, which prohibits citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, took effect at midnight Eastern Time on Monday, igniting a storm of international criticism and domestic political debate. The executive order, signed last week, bars entry to nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. An additional seven countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face partial restrictions.

 

 

The White House defended the move as a national security measure. In a statement, officials said the “common sense restrictions” were implemented “to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.” President Trump indicated that the list of restricted countries could change based on future security developments or if affected nations make “material improvements” in governance and vetting practices. “Threats emerge around the world,” he stated, leaving open the possibility of further additions.

 

This marks the second major travel ban imposed by Trump during his presidency. A similar executive order in 2017, widely referred to as the "Muslim ban," faced intense legal scrutiny and prompted widespread protests. Like its predecessor, the new order is expected to face legal challenges.

 

Despite the sweeping nature of the ban, several exemptions were included. Lawful permanent residents, their immediate family members with immigrant visas, U.S. government employees with Special Immigrant Visas, and individuals adopted from the listed countries are not affected. Dual nationals traveling on passports from non-restricted countries are also exempt.

 

Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas and Iranians with immigrant visas granted due to persecution based on ethnicity or religion will still be allowed entry. Additionally, certain non-immigrant visa holders, athletes and their teams participating in major global sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, and individuals who could serve the national interest may be granted entry on a case-by-case basis by the Secretary of State.

 

The ban was announced shortly after a suspected terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national injured 12 people using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails during a demonstration in support of Israeli hostages. In a video posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump cited the incident as evidence of the dangers posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals. Despite this, Egypt was notably absent from the list of banned countries.

 

The reaction to the ban has been swift and polarized. Chad responded by halting all visa services for U.S. citizens, while Somalia stated its willingness to cooperate with Washington on security issues. The African Union condemned the order and urged the United States to “engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned.”

 

Domestically, Democratic lawmakers were quick to denounce the policy. “This ban, expanded from Trump's Muslim ban in his first term, will only further isolate us on the world stage,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on social media. In contrast, supporters of the ban, like Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, defended it as a matter of sovereignty and security. “Travel to the US is a privilege, not a right,” Higgins told the BBC.

 

As the ban begins to reshape America’s immigration landscape once again, legal experts and civil rights groups are preparing for what promises to be another round of courtroom battles over the scope and constitutionality of the president’s authority on immigration.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC  2025-06-10

 

 

[Yagoda]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

This ban, expanded from Trump's Muslim ban in his first term, will only further isolate us on the world stage,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on social media.

North Korea, Sudan, Eritrea, Iran...got it. The beacons of hope in the world.

[FlorC]

Why visa restrictions for Laos ?

[Emdog]

I would suggest the powers that be in FIFA ought to consider holding the world cup outside of USA as long as Trump & xenophobes are running the show. Same goes for Olympics. 

for fun looked up Nazi policies for 1936 Olympics... "Lithuania was officially expelled from the 1936 Berlin Olympics due to Germany's stance on Lithuanian anti-Nazi policies"

If a countries athletes are allowed to participate, it's citizens should be allowed to attend. And one would hope perhaps do some sightseeing before or after. 

[frank83628]

18 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Why visa restrictions for Laos ?

Or burma.

[FlorC]

4 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Or burma.

Well with the civil war going on there , I get it , but Laos ?

[Patong2021]

32 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Why visa restrictions for Laos ?

 

The country  reportedly has  a high proportion of visa holders who overstay. The Laotian Times reported that 4.500 laotians illegally reside in the USA. Also the Laotian passport controls are not deemed appropriate.

[FlorC]

8 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

The country  reportedly has  a high proportion of visa holders who overstay. The Laotian Times reported that 4.500 laotians illegally reside in the USA. Also the Laotian passport controls are not deemed appropriate.

Ok thanks.

Wow there are 4.500 Laotians who could afford a plane ticket ? 

It is a poor country. 

 

4500 out of 10 to even 20 million illegals .

Probably not rioting and claiming California is theirs because it was stolen from Mexicans.

[Patong2021]

37 minutes ago, Emdog said:

I would suggest the powers that be in FIFA ought to consider holding the world cup outside of USA as long as Trump & xenophobes are running the show. Same goes for Olympics. 

for fun looked up Nazi policies for 1936 Olympics... "Lithuania was officially expelled from the 1936 Berlin Olympics due to Germany's stance on Lithuanian anti-Nazi policies"

If a countries athletes are allowed to participate, it's citizens should be allowed to attend. And one would hope perhaps do some sightseeing before or after. 

 

You are in denial of  the long standing problems with the  restricted countries. Some are already subject to international sanctions. Qualifying FIFA tournament countries will be able to obtain  visas. It is understandable that the USA  wants to restrict some countries' citizens because of the   likelihood that they will refuse to leave.

Are you aware that Eritrea  withdrew from qualification prior to playing any matches, because of its embarrassment that players would  refuse to leave. The Congo will not be participating because of its ban by the Football governing body  over government influence peddling and meddling. Other countries have not qualifed. Which of the restricted countries has qualified for the tournament?

 

Have you looked at the  restricted nation list? Most are hostile to the USA. Others are subject to international sanctions. All  have a high proportion of  people allowed in who claim refugee status or who overstay their visas. 

Chad, Libya, Somalia, Sudan,  all have a terrorism problem. 

Myanmar, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea are subject to  sanctions because of human rights abuses. 

Iran, Yemen and Afghanistan are hostile to the USA.

Haiti  has a problem with unauthorized migrants and bogus refugee claims. Haitians refuse to go back to Haiti.

 

The USA has every right to protect itself from unwanted  immigrants and from terrorists.

[bendejo]

47 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Well with the civil war going on there , I get it , but Laos ?

 

IMO it is because they are Lao People's Democratic Republic.  In USA politics people's means commie.

Don't think for a second DT came up with each place on the list.

 

Bear in mind the list contained places inhabited only by wildlife.

 

 

[frank83628]

1 minute ago, FlorC said:

Ok thanks.

Wow there are 4.500 Laotians who could afford a plane ticket ? 

It is a poor country. 

 

4500 out of 10 to even 20 million illegals .

Probably not rioting and claiming California is theirs because it was stolen from Mexicans.

I would expect many in LA are BLM, Antifa and  j6 democrat soros paid mobs.

Not genuine protesters. I hope Newsom and bass are arrsested

[bubblegum]

33 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

You are in denial of  the long standing problems with the  restricted countries. Some are already subject to international sanctions. Qualifying FIFA tournament countries will be able to obtain  visas. It is understandable that the USA  wants to restrict some countries' citizens because of the   likelihood that they will refuse to leave.

Are you aware that Eritrea  withdrew from qualification prior to playing any matches, because of its embarrassment that players would  refuse to leave. The Congo will not be participating because of its ban by the Football governing body  over government influence peddling and meddling. Other countries have not qualifed. Which of the restricted countries has qualified for the tournament?

 

Have you looked at the  restricted nation list? Most are hostile to the USA. Others are subject to international sanctions. All  have a high proportion of  people allowed in who claim refugee status or who overstay their visas. 

Chad, Libya, Somalia, Sudan,  all have a terrorism problem. 

Myanmar, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea are subject to  sanctions because of human rights abuses. 

Iran, Yemen and Afghanistan are hostile to the USA.

Haiti  has a problem with unauthorized migrants and bogus refugee claims. Haitians refuse to go back to Haiti.

 

The USA has every right to protect itself from unwanted  immigrants and from terrorists.

The Maga's call just about everybody unwanted and terrorist. Big mouth but scared of everything so need gun to protect. Jeez, wimp's.

[Patong2021]

8 minutes ago, bubblegum said:

The Maga's call just about everybody unwanted and terrorist. Big mouth but scared of everything so need gun to protect. Jeez, wimp's.

 

This isn't about MAGA. The countries who present a terrorism risk have been like that for  many years, long before Trump was president.  Are you denying the at Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Chad and Libya do not have a significant terrorism risk?  Iran tried to assassinate Trump and has repeatedly threatened the USA, and you expect the USA  to say come on in to Iranians?

[Eric Loh]

13 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

This isn't about MAGA. The countries who present a terrorism risk have been like that for  many years, long before Trump was president.  Are you denying the at Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Chad and Libya do not have a significant terrorism risk?  Iran tried to assassinate Trump and has repeatedly threatened the USA, and you expect the USA  to say come on in to Iranians?

If that it your argument, it should include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Beside 9/11, Saudi export Wahhabism, a strict strain of Islam that has been blamed for fueling extremism around the world. Trump called Saudi Arabia "the world's biggest founder of terrorism"in 2011. Qatar has been accused of state-sponsored terrorism. It is all performative politics and doing what best for himself. 

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

Well with the civil war going on there , I get it , but Laos ?

Failed state that cant enforce security policies

[animalmagic]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Failed state that cant enforce security policies

Yup, America does have some problems!

[Cat Boy]

Institutionalized xenophobia,... 

 

... The American Way

[dinsdale]

7 hours ago, bendejo said:

 

IMO it is because they are Lao People's Democratic Republic.  In USA politics people's means commie.

Don't think for a second DT came up with each place on the list.

 

Bear in mind the list contained places inhabited only by wildlife.

 

 

You're wrong. @Patong2021 is correct. 

[khunjeff]

10 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

The country  reportedly has  a high proportion of visa holders who overstay. The Laotian Times reported that 4.500 laotians illegally reside in the USA.

 

The proper way to deal with that according to law is to refuse the applications of any likely intending immigrants, not to ban everyone in the country from even applying.

[khunjeff]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

officials said the “common sense restrictions” were implemented “to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.”

 

The only "dangerous foreign actor" I know is Gerard Depardieu, and he's not on the list 😎

[Srikcir]

So penguins can still enter the US despite Trump's trade war with them. 

[Patong2021]

50 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

The proper way to deal with that according to law is to refuse the applications of any likely intending immigrants, not to ban everyone in the country from even applying.

 

Some countries are not banned, but have restrictions.  The BBC gives a decent explanation.   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6329yvwdvo   The reality is that several of the countries have not co-operated or are impossible to manage. Libya and Haiti are two examples. The visa overstayers from Haiti refuse to go back. Neither Libya nor Haiti  are places that allow for the safe operation of a consulate. Both are lawless and subject to daily violence. The  Trump administration  administrative changes were done in accordance of the law and  have been based on   documentation of overstays and the problems  related to the visa process. They were not done randomly.

 

10 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

If that it your argument, it should include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Beside 9/11, Saudi export Wahhabism, a strict strain of Islam that has been blamed for fueling extremism around the world. Trump called Saudi Arabia "the world's biggest founder of terrorism"in 2011. Qatar has been accused of state-sponsored terrorism. It is all performative politics and doing what best for himself. 

 

The countries which are banned  present a clear and obvious threat. Neither Qatar, nor Saudi Arabia is issuing threats against the USA, and their respective governments have been co-operative in the containment of terrorist threats. Yes KSA was and is still implicated in the funding of violence, as is Qatar, however, the violence is not directed at US interests.

Your position is that you are opposed to the  granting of  tourist visas to Iran and  Yemen. Yemen has called for jihad against the USA. It was attacking  cargo ships and is backed by Iran. How can you expect the USA to offer a luxury, a discretionary gesture  that is used for friendly nations, to two hostile nations? The USA, like any other  nation is not obliged to welcome the nationals of hostile states.

[Yagoda]

14 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

Institutionalized xenophobia,... 

 

... The American Way

Thats just a stupid lie.

[quake]

Well done Don. 

Taking care of business. 

 

[Cat Boy]

4 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Thats just a stupid lie.

Apparently you're unfamiliar with the Alien and Sedition Acts and the Chinese Exclusion Act. 

 

Brush up on your American history, you're either showing your own ignorance, living in open denial bubble or both. 

[Yagoda]

3 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

Chinese Exclusion Act. 

What year was that LOL

[Cat Boy]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

What year was that LOL

Google it if you don't know. 

 

I'm not your tutor in American history. 

 

Both your open denial of modern history and the past 250 years since it's founding show your ignorance more than you seem to be aware.

 

Apparently you're use of "LOL" means 'Lucidity on low".

 

Wake up try reading and read a book 

[Yagoda]

18 minutes ago, Cat Boy said:

Google it if you don't know. 

I know, just checking the relevancy of laws that were first passed in 1882.

 

Hey lets do a reality check for you new guy: Did Trump close the border?

21 minutes ago, Cat Boy said:

Wake up try reading and read a book 

Yeah Im reading Jake Tappers