U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing national security concerns. The directive, effective from June 9, 2025, fully restricts entry for citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial restrictions.
Trump said the move is meant to shield the U.S. from “foreign terrorists” and security threats. “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” he stated in a video posted on X.
According to the proclamation, countries facing the strictest measures either host large terrorist elements or fail to meet U.S. standards for traveller vetting, identity verification, and visa compliance.
This policy follows Trump’s January 20 executive order directing officials to recommend countries with inadequate security screening procedures for potential travel bans.
Trump’s earlier travel ban during his first term targeted seven nations and was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, though it was later repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
