American President Donald Trump has banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and restricted access for those from seven others. Citing national security concerns, the move is similar to the restrictions that were imposed during his first term in office (2017-2021).
The announcement came after a terror attack by an Egyptian man in the state of Colorado earlier this week left 12 people injured. “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, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,” Trump said while announcing the ban. “We don’t want them.”
Citizens of the following countries face a complete travel ban to the United States of America beginning June 9:
Afghanistan
Chad
The Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen
India is not on the list of countries included in Trump's travel ban. Despite this, Indian students going to the USA are currently facing uncertainty about their visas after Trump directed all embassies and consulates worldwide to halt student visa applications pending a social-media vetting process.
The countries were identified based on:
A perceived threat to US national security from their limited screening and vetting processes
A “disregard” for US immigration laws through high visa overstay rates
Presence of terrorist actors, including those sponsored by the state
An unwillingness to accept their removable nationals
Countries facing partial bans from June 9 include:
Burundi
Cuba
Sierra Leone
Togo
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Both categories of travel-restricted countries have exemptions for certain people. These include:
Green card holders
Dual citizens, including US citizens who also have citizenship of one of the banned countries
Athletes and their coaches travelling to the US for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, the 2025 FIFA Men's Club World Cup, the 2028 Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the US Secretary of State
Afghans who worked for the US government or its allies in Afghanistan and are holders of Afghan special immigrant visas
Iranians belonging to an ethnic or religious minority who are fleeing prosecution
Certain foreign national employees of the US government who have served abroad for at least 15 years, and their spouses and children
People who were granted asylum or admitted to the US as refugees before the ban took effect
People with US family members who apply for visas in connection to their spouses, children or parents
Diplomats and foreign government officials on official visits
Those travelling to the United Nations headquarters in New York solely on official UN business
Representatives of international organisations and NATO on official visits in the US
Children adopted by US citizens.
Early in Trump’s first term, he issued an executive order banning travel to the US by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
It was regarded as one of the most chaotic and confusing moments of his presidency. Travellers from those nations were either barred from getting on flights to the US or detained at US airports after they landed. They included students and faculty, as well as businesspeople, tourists and people visiting friends and family.
The order, often referred to as the “Muslim ban” or the “travel ban,” was retooled amid legal challenges until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)
