New Trump Travel Ban: What You Need to Know About Restrictions on Citizens from 12 Countries

At midnight Eastern Time on Monday, a new travel ban signed by former President Donald Trump came into effect. This ban blocks citizens from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the United States. Additionally, seven more nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face partial travel restrictions.

Trump indicated that this list could change with "material improvements" in security, suggesting that more countries could be added as threats emerge.

This is the second travel ban issued by Trump, the first being in 2017 during his initial term as president. The White House described the restrictions as "common sense" measures aimed at protecting Americans.

Certain groups are still allowed entry despite the ban. These include:

• Lawful permanent U.S. residents
• Immediate family members of residents holding immigrant visas
• U.S. government employees with Special Immigrant Visas
• Individuals involved in adoptions
• Dual nationals not traveling on passports from a banned country
• Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas
• Holders of immigrant visas for persecuted religious and ethnic minorities in Iran
• Foreign nationals on certain non-immigrant visas
• Athletes and their teams visiting for major events like the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

The Secretary of State can also offer case-by-case exemptions.

In context, it’s worth noting that this ban was announced following a violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national launched an attack, injuring 12 people. While this attack raised concerns about foreign nationals, Egypt was not included in the travel ban.

The travel ban received quick backlash both domestically and internationally. Chad responded by halting all visas for U.S. citizens, while Somalia pledged to collaborate with the U.S. on security matters. The African Union urged the U.S. to communicate constructively with the impacted countries.

Reactions in the U.S. varied. While some lawmakers voiced their disapproval—like Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who argued that this ban isolates the U.S. internationally—others supported the move. Congressman Clay Higgins stated that travel to the U.S. is a privilege, not a right.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that views on immigration and travel restrictions are deeply divided along party lines, suggesting that this issue continues to evoke strong sentiments across the political spectrum.

For further details on immigration policies and their implications, you can explore reports from the American Immigration Council.

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