Trump Bans Travel to US by Nationals from 12 Countries Including Somalia, Sudan and Congo
The United States government has implemented a sweeping travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries, citing growing national security concerns. The directive follows the signing of an Executive Order by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
According to the new policy, nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will no longer be allowed to enter the US starting July 9, 2025.
In a press briefing, President Trump stated, “Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country that we cannot safely and reliably vet or screen those who seek to enter the United States.”
He added that the travel restrictions are based on comprehensive security assessments that evaluated each country’s ability to share criminal data, control large-scale terrorist networks, and monitor visa overstay rates. Countries with poor identity verification systems and inadequate cooperation with US authorities were flagged as high-risk.
In addition to the 12 nations under a full ban, residents of seven more countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will face partial restrictions.
The executive order also authorizes the deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador and imposes new measures to block certain international students from enrolling or remaining in the US.
Trump emphasized that this list is not final and may evolve. “The strengths of the restrictions we are applying depend on the severity of the threat posed. The list is subject to revision based on whether material progress is made. Likewise, new countries can be added as threats emerge around the world,” he said.
Critics have already raised concerns about the policy’s humanitarian and diplomatic implications, especially for war-torn and politically unstable countries included in the ban.
The move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to tighten immigration controls and revisit controversial policies from his first term.
As global reactions begin to pour in, diplomatic tensions are expected to rise, particularly among nations most affected by the new restrictions.
In other news:Police Unmask Six Conmen Using Caller ID Spoofing System to Siphon Millions
Trump Bans Travel to US by Nationals from 12 Countries Including Somalia, Sudan and Congo