Trump Announces New U.S. Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Restrictions on 7 More Starting Monday
WASHINGTON (AP) – Former President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new U.S. travel ban set to take effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., targeting travelers from 12 countries and imposing restrictions on seven additional nations.
This move revives a controversial policy from Trump’s first term and marks a return to stricter immigration and border control measures. Unlike the abrupt rollout of the 2017 travel ban that caused widespread airport confusion, this version provides a short lead time to minimize disruption.
Countries Included in the Ban
The 12 countries facing a full travel ban include:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Additional Travel Restrictions
Visitors from seven other countries will face heightened entry restrictions rather than an outright ban. These countries are:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
National Security Concerns Cited
In a video posted to social media, Trump linked the renewed travel restrictions to national security threats, referencing the recent Boulder, Colorado terror attack. He suggested that visa overstays by foreign visitors could pose significant risks, although the suspect in the Boulder attack was from Egypt—a country not included on the ban list. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the suspect had overstayed a tourist visa.
This updated travel ban follows a January statement by Trump, hinting that immigration enforcement would be a key part of his platform. Legal analysts note that the administration’s move comes after gaining a favorable Supreme Court ruling during his first term, likely giving the policy stronger legal footing this time.
