On June 5, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries from entering US, citing national security concerns following a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado. The ban, effective June 9, 2025, prohibits entry into the United States for individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition to the full ban, the administration imposed partial restrictions on travelers from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These restrictions primarily affect temporary work visas, while certain categories such as permanent residents, dual nationals, and athletes participating in major international sporting events are exempt.
President Trump justified the measure ban of 12 countries from entering US by pointing to deficiencies in these countries’ ability to verify identities, maintain criminal records, and prevent visa overstays. He also referenced the Boulder incident, allegedly involving an Egyptian immigrant, as evidence of the risks posed by inadequate immigration controls.
The new executive order, titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” echoes the controversial travel bans from Trump’s first term, which faced legal challenges but were ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Critics argue that the ban disproportionately affects African and Muslim-majority countries and may face renewed legal scrutiny. The administration maintains that the policy is a necessary step to safeguard national security and public safety.
