Latest news with #SummerSoiree
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Trump restores travel ban on 12 countries
President Donald Trump speaks as he attends a "Summer Soiree" held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., US, June 4, 2025. Photo: Reuters Thousands of Afghan nationals who are waiting in Pakistan for their onward settlement in the United States received a fatal blow to their plans, as US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning the Afghan citizens from entering the United States. Trump banned the citizens of 12 countries – Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – from entering the US, saying that the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats. Besides the entry of people from seven other countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela – will be partially restricted. The directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump had launched this year at the start of his second term. "We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm," Trump said in a video posted on X. He added the list could be revised and new countries could be added. According to the order the proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025, while visas issued before that date will not be revoked. Earlier in January, just days after taking the office, Trump's administration halted visa processing for Afghan refugees, including those who collaborated with the coalition forces in Afghanistan for decades but had to flee to Pakistan after the American pull-out and return of the Taliban government in 2021. Shawn VanDiver, the founder of #AfghanEvac, the leading coalition of resettlement and veterans groups, had said in January this year that there were 10,000-15,000 Afghans in Pakistan, waiting for special immigration visas or resettlement in the US as refugees. Trump said on Wednesday that the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbour a "large-scale presence of terrorists," fail to cooperate on visa security, have an inability to verify travellers' identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminals and high rates of overstays in the US. "We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter" the US," he said. He cited a incident on Sunday when a man tossed a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators as an example of why the new curbs are needed. A spokesperson for the Taliban-led Afghan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pakistan's foreign ministry also did not immediately reply to a request for comment on how it would handle the thousands of Afghans, who had been in the pipeline for US resettlement.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Trump slaps travel ban on 12 countries, says 'no entry' to terror threats
President Donald Trump speaks as he attends a "Summer Soiree" held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 4, 2025. Photo: Reuters Listen to article US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning the citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, saying the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats. The directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term, which has included the deportation to El Salvador of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members, as well as efforts to deny enrollments of some foreign students and deport others. The countries affected by the latest travel ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The entry of people from seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela - will be partially restricted. "We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm," Trump said in a video posted on Truth Social. He said the list could be revised and new countries could be added. The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). Visas issued before that date will not be revoked, the order said. The African Union's Commission expressed concern on Thursday about the potential negative impact of the new travel ban on educational exchanges, commercial engagement and broader diplomatic relations. "The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the US administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned," it said in a statement. During his first, 2017-21 term in office, Trump announced a ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, repealed that ban on nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen in 2021, calling it "a stain on our national conscience". Trump said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbor a "large-scale presence of terrorists," fail to cooperate on visa security, have an inability to verify travelers' identities as well as inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the United States. "We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States," Trump said. He cited Sunday's incident in Boulder, Colorado in which a man tossed a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators as an example of why the new curbs are needed. An Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged in the attack. Federal officials said Soliman had overstayed his tourist visa and had an expired work permit - although Egypt is not on the list of countries facing travel limits. Being in the US a 'big risk' Somalia immediately pledged to work with the US to address security issues. "Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised," Dahir Hassan Abdi, the Somali ambassador to the United States, said in a statement. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro, responded on Wednesday evening by describing the US government as fascist and warning Venezuelans against being in the United States. "The truth is being in the United States is a big risk for anybody, not just for Venezuelans ... They persecute our countrymen, our people for no reason." A spokesperson for the Taliban-led Afghan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pakistan's foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on how it would handle the thousands of Afghans waiting in Islamabad who had been in the pipeline for US resettlement. Calls early on Thursday to the spokesperson for Myanmar's military government were not answered. The travel ban threatens to upend a 31-year-old Myanmar teacher's plan to join a US State Department exchange program, which was slated to start in September. "It is not easy to apply nor get accepted as we needed several recommendation letters," said the teacher, who currently lives in Thailand and asked not to be named because her visa application is still outstanding. "In my case, I would get to work at universities that provide digital education," she said, adding that she had not been updated by the program after Trump's announcement. Trump's presidential campaign focused on a tough border strategy and he previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security." Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats. The latest travel restrictions were first reported by CBS News. In March, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was considering travel restrictions on dozens of countries.
Barnama
a day ago
- Politics
- Barnama
African Union Calls For ‘Balanced, Evidence-Based' US Approach To Travel Ban
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a "Summer Soiree" held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis ISTANBUL, June 5 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The African Union (AU) on Thursday called on the United States (US) to adopt a travel ban policy that is 'balanced, evidence-based, and reflective' of long-standing bilateral ties, after Washington restricted travel from a dozen countries, several of them in Africa, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Acknowledging every nation's sovereign right to border protection and security, the AU Commission said in a statement it is concerned over 'potential negative impact' on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, trade, and the broader diplomatic relations that 'have been carefully nurtured over decades.' It highlighted the common interests of Africa and the US in fostering peace, prosperity, and global collaboration. bootstrap slideshow The AU 'respectfully' urged the US administration to consider adopting a 'more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue' with affected countries, calling for 'transparent communication, and where necessary, collaborative efforts' to address any underlying concerns behind the travel ban decision. The Trump administration announced on Wednesday evening a ban that is set to prohibit travel to the US from a dozen countries and restrict travel from seven others, citing inadequate screening and vetting processes, which hinder "America's ability to identify potential security threats before entry." The White House said in a statement that Trump took the action after reviewing a report from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials. Trump's order specifically prohibits people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the US. An additional seven countries -- Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela -- will face partial restrictions and limited entry of their nationals. The ban and restrictions are set to take effect at 12.01 am Eastern Time on Monday. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump has asked Balkan states to accept deportees, Bloomberg reports
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he attends a \"Summer Soiree\" held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis President Donald Trump's administration is pushing Serbia and other Balkan countries to take in migrants deported from the United States, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The requests to countries in the region form part of a broader U.S. strategy to find foreign governments willing to receive deported migrants, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House, U.S. State Department and Serbia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court let Trump's administration revoke the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan, Cuban, Haitian, and Nicaraguan migrants living in the United States, bolstering the Republican president's drive to step up deportations. The Trump administration has been looking for possible destinations for the immigrants who could be deported as a result of the decision, the Bloomberg report said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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First Post
2 days ago
- General
- First Post
Trump's new travel ban: Which countries are hit? How does it compare to his 2017 'Muslim ban'?
US President Donald Trump has reimposed travel restrictions on 19 countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Haiti, reviving a controversial immigration policy reminiscent of his 2017 'Muslim ban'. With bans or visa limits targeting nations across Africa, West Asia and Latin America, citing national security and visa overstay rates, how does this updated order compare to his earlier version? read more US President Donald Trump gestures during a "Summer Soiree" held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, June 4, 2025. File Image/Reuters United States President Donald Trump has reinstated a sweeping travel ban targeting nationals from a list of countries deemed by his administration to pose security risks. The proclamation, signed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, is set to take effect at 12:01 am EDT on June 9, echoing a resemblance to the infamous 2017 'Muslim ban.' The order imposes full travel bans on 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others. While it bears structural similarities to the earlier version upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, the latest iteration applies to a wider geographical range and includes different categories of exemptions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What the new travel ban comprises The latest travel proclamation bans nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States. These are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. In addition to the outright entry ban, visitors from seven countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela — will face restrictions on immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories including B-1, B-2, F, M and J visas. The proclamation clearly states that it does not revoke visas issued prior to June 9, offering a degree of clarity that was absent during the rollout of the 2017 travel ban, which caused chaos at airports worldwide. It also outlines specific exceptions, including lawful permanent residents of the United States, dual nationals travelling on a passport from an unrestricted country, diplomats with valid non-immigrant visas, and athletes and their immediate families travelling for major international sports events. Notably, Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas, as well as persecuted ethnic and religious minorities from Iran, are also exempt. Trump defended the rationale behind the move in a social media video, linking it to national security risks and the recent Colorado terror incident. 'We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,' Trump said. While the suspect in the Boulder attack was from Egypt — a nation not included in the new restrictions —Trump cited the case to highlight broader risks posed by visa overstays. How Trump's 2025 travel ban compares with 2017 Trump's original travel ban was launched through Executive Order 13769 on January 27, 2017, and applied to travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also halted refugee resettlement and reduced the annual refugee admissions cap. The order was initially blocked in court, revised, and then replaced by other executive orders and presidential proclamations before a version was finally upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While both the 2017 and 2025 bans cite national security concerns and inadequate vetting as the main justifications, the countries listed in the latest order are not exclusively Muslim-majority. Instead, they are identified based on visa overstay rates, lack of cooperation with US immigration authorities or internal instability. For instance, Trump wrote that Afghanistan 'lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.' He also pointed to Haiti's 'lack of a central authority with sufficient availability and dissemination of law enforcement information.' Unlike in 2017, when travellers with existing visas were detained or turned back mid-journey, the 2025 version offers a grace period and clearer guidance. Visas issued before June 9 will remain valid, and legal permanent residents and others fitting exemption categories will still be allowed to enter. Trump's previous ban also underwent several iterations. The third version of the 2017 policy extended to include North Korea and certain Venezuelan government officials. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A later proclamation added countries like Nigeria, Tanzania and Myanmar, primarily targeting immigrant visa categories. US President Joe Biden revoked the 2017 ban in 2021, calling it 'a stain on our national conscience.' What the response has been As with the original travel ban, the new order has drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups and immigration advocates. 'To include Afghanistan — a nation whose people stood alongside American service members for 20 years — is a moral disgrace. It spits in the face of our allies, our veterans, and every value we claim to uphold,' said Shawn VanDiver, president and board chairman of #AfghanEvac. Aid organisations have also condemned the ban. Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, stated, 'This policy is not about national security — it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States.' On the other hand, Trump and his supporters have defended the action as a necessary step to ensure that individuals entering the US are thoroughly vetted and do not pose threats. 'We don't want them,' Trump said, referring to visitors from countries with 'deficient' screening systems or those that refuse to repatriate citizens ordered to be deported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US Department of Homeland Security report on visa overstays played a central role in shaping the list. According to Trump, countries were included due to high percentages of overstays among tourists, business visitors, and students. What changed from 2017 Although the travel ban affects a range of countries, some of which were on previous lists, there are notable additions and exclusions. For instance, Haiti was not banned in Trump's first term but has been added now due to its rising visa overstay rates and ongoing domestic instability. Armed gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, and the country's weakened state infrastructure has been cited in justifying its inclusion. The reaction from countries affected has varied. While the Iranian government has not immediately responded, the US continues to classify Iran as a 'state sponsor of terrorism.' The ban excludes Iranian minorities holding special visas granted for cases of religious persecution. Other countries — such as Libya, Sudan and Yemen — continue to struggle with civil conflict and factional control, circumstances which, according to the Trump administration, make reliable screening difficult. This new policy is also part of a broader immigration clampdown under Trump's second term. Alongside the travel ban, his administration has taken steps to expel suspected gang members to El Salvador and restrict the access of certain foreign students. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The order originated from a January 20 directive requiring the Departments of State and Homeland Security, along with the Director of National Intelligence, to evaluate countries based on their perceived 'hostile attitudes' and threats posed to the United States. With inputs from agencies
