Trump imposes ban on people travelling to US from 12 countries

Extra.ie​

a day ago

President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new travel ban that blocks entry into the United States for nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Haiti – reviving a controversial policy from his first term.
The White House says the ban, which takes effect Monday, is in response to a recent flamethrower-style attack in Boulder, Colorado. Authorities have blamed the attack on an Egyptian man who was reportedly in the U.S. illegally after overstaying a tourist visa and later applying for asylum.
Under the new proclamation, all travel to the U.S. is prohibited for citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan
Myanmar
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen
Additionally, nationals from seven other countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela – will face partial restrictions, primarily affecting temporary work and student visas. US president Donald Trump. Pic:Trump's order specifically exempts athletes participating in major upcoming international competitions. Participants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, will be allowed entry regardless of nationality.
In a separate measure, Trump announced a visa ban for incoming international students accepted to Harvard University, framing it as part of a broader crackdown on what he described as 'liberal strongholds.'
This latest action draws strong comparisons to Trump's 2017 travel ban, which targeted several Muslim-majority countries and faced widespread backlash and legal challenges. Trump defended that earlier ban as having 'prevented terror attacks like those seen in Europe,' and said the new measures are necessary to maintain national security.
'We cannot have open migration from countries we cannot safely and reliably vet,' Trump said in a video message posted to social media. 'We don't want them.' View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The White House (@whitehouse)
The president emphasized the recent attack in Boulder as a wake-up call, calling it a reminder of the dangers posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals.
Legal analysts say the ban is likely to face court challenges, as have many of Trump's hardline immigration policies. The announcement was made without a traditional press event and came minutes after Trump addressed political appointees at a 'summer soiree' from a White House balcony.
The move has already triggered diplomatic pushback. Venezuela, which is partially targeted under the new order, condemned the ban, calling the U.S. a dangerous destination.
'Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just Venezuelans,' said Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, warning citizens against travel to the US. US president Donald Trump. Pic: Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images
Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, warned that the ban would once again disrupt families and communities.
'Americans will again be denied the chance to see their loved ones at weddings, funerals, or the birth of a child,' Abdi said.
Despite excluding Egypt – the home country of the Boulder suspect – from the travel ban, Trump's administration insisted the measures are part of a broader effort to 'protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.'