Trump travel ban: Why is Trump banning millions from the US again?
US President Donald Trump has announced a new travel ban affecting 19 countries, saying, 'We don't want them.' The sweeping restrictions, introduced via a presidential proclamation on Wednesday, block or limit entry for citizens from nations deemed 'high-risk' by his administration. The ban, which begins on 9 June, is being framed as a national security measure and comes just five months into Trump's second term.
Trump cited 'foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism goals' for the move and warned that more countries may be added as threats emerge. 'The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted,' he said, referencing an incident involving an Egyptian national accused of assault during a protest.
Trump Travel Ban: Who is affected?
The proclamation creates a three-tiered barrier system. Twelve countries are fully banned from entry — including for tourism, work, or study. These are:
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Afghanistan
Myanmar (Burma)
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen
Seven other countries face partial restrictions, meaning citizens may face specific visa or entry limitations:
Burundi
Cuba
Laos
Sierra Leone
Togo
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Each country has been flagged for one or more of the following reasons: unreliable government screening systems, high visa overstay rates, or ties to terrorism.
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"We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm," Trump said in a video posted on X. He said the list could be revised and new countries could be added.
The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT (0401 GMT). Visas issued before that date will not be revoked, the order said.
In his proclamation, Trump asserted: 'During my first administration, I restricted the entry of foreign nationals... which successfully prevented national security threats from reaching our borders and which the Supreme Court upheld.' He added that the new policy ensures those entering the US 'do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists.'
The proclamation builds on an earlier executive order which tasked the
US State Department
with identifying nations that do not meet US standards for document integrity and traveller screening. Countries like Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen were cited for lacking competent authorities to issue valid passports or verify identities. Others, such as Myanmar and Chad, were included for excessive rates of visa overstays.
The move also reflects Trump's campaign rhetoric. Last year, he promised to 'ban refugee resettlement from terror-infested areas like the Gaza Strip.'
Sporting events and key exceptions
Despite the broad scope of the restrictions, certain exemptions remain. According to the White House, the ban will not apply to athletes participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Olympic Games. Permanent residents, visa holders, and Afghan nationals under the special immigrant visa (SIV) scheme will also be exempted in limited cases. However, protections such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans have already been terminated, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirming the change in May.
Criticism from lawmakers and rights advocates
The announcement triggered strong criticism from Democratic leaders. Representative Don Beyer posted on X: 'From his first Muslim Ban, Trump's travel bans have always betrayed the ideals and values that inspired America's Founders.'
Representative Pramila Jayapal said: 'This discriminatory policy... will be harmful to our economy and our communities that rely on the contributions of people who come to America from this wide range of countries.' She added: 'Banning a whole group of people because you disagree with the structure or function of their government... creates a dangerous precedent.'
Jayapal also highlighted the inclusion of countries like Afghanistan, where many worked with US troops during its military presence. These individuals now face being barred from the very country they helped.
What makes this ban different from 2017?
Unlike the 2017 version — which mainly focused on Muslim-majority countries and was later expanded to include North Korea and Venezuela — the 2025 ban is broader. It also brings Haiti into the fold, a notable shift given the racialised and false narratives Trump's allies spread during the 2024 campaign. For instance, Trump's running mate JD Vance had claimed Haitian immigrants in Ohio were 'eating the pets of the people that live there.'
Despite 200,000 Haitians having been granted TPS under the Biden administration, Trump's proclamation frames their presence as a threat, falsely alleging: 'Hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens flooded into the United States during the Biden Administration.'
While the proclamation allows for future revisions, the criteria remain vague. Trump has said the list could be updated based on whether 'material improvements' are made by the affected nations.
Until then, millions of people—students, workers, families, and asylum-seekers—must reckon with the implications of being locked out. For many, it's not just a legal obstacle. It's personal. And it's political.
Whether courts or Congress intervene remains to be seen. But for now, the new travel ban stands as one of the most consequential acts of Trump's return to the White House.
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