Trump Reveals New Travel Ban: Restrictions on 19 Countries Take Effect This Monday

Recently, President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, along with restrictions on visitors from seven others. This ban was set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, giving travelers time to prepare, unlike the chaotic rollout of a similar measure back in 2017. Trump’s initial ban faced significant backlash and confusion, especially at airports.

The new list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. For seven other nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—travel will come with additional restrictions.

In a social media video, Trump linked the ban to a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. He pointed out that the suspect overstayed a tourist visa and came from Egypt, a country not on the banned list. His justification for the ban rests on concerns about rigorous screening procedures in certain countries, emphasizing visa overstay rates as a significant factor. According to the Department of Homeland Security, countries with high overstay percentages are monitored closely.

Some supporters were upset by the inclusion of Afghanistan, a nation whose citizens have aided the U.S. over the last two decades. Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, criticized the decision, calling it a “moral disgrace.” Trump defended the choice by saying Afghanistan lacks a strong central authority for issuing documents and has high visa overstay rates.

Haiti, newly added to the list, faces severe issues, including poverty, hunger, and political instability, following a rise in gang violence. Trump stated that Haiti doesn’t have the necessary law enforcement measures to ensure its nationals do not pose national security risks.

The timing of the travel ban is significant. It comes after Trump had already suspended refugee resettlements, affecting thousands who had anticipated entering the U.S. In the past year, many refugees from the Republic of Congo arrived in the U.S., with Afghanistan following closely behind. Statistically, nearly 20,000 refugees from Congo were admitted, highlighting ongoing global migration trends amidst crisis situations.

This ban is grounded in a January executive order directing various government departments to report on potential threats based on “hostile attitudes” towards the U.S. During Trump’s first term, he implemented an executive order banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries for similar reasons. That initial ban was mired in legal battles, only to be partially upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

While Trump maintains the ban is about national security, it continues to raise questions about discrimination and the implications for U.S. foreign relations. The inclusion of nations with close ties to the U.S., like Afghanistan, complicates a narrative meant to emphasize safety over bias.

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