WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited global controversy by reinstating a sweeping travel ban that blocks entry to the United States from a dozen countries, with the new restrictions set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
In a proclamation signed Wednesday night, Trump said the decision was necessary “to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people.” The countries now facing outright entry bans include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additional visa restrictions will apply to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, signaling a broader crackdown on immigration and travel from nations deemed security risks by the administration.
The policy stems from a January 20 executive order in which Trump directed the Departments of State and Homeland Security, along with the Director of National Intelligence, to assess so-called “hostile attitudes” toward the U.S. and evaluate the national security implications of allowing entry from certain nations.
This marks a sharp return to one of the most contentious policies of Trump’s first term — the 2017 travel ban that triggered airport chaos, international outcry, and a wave of legal battles. Originally targeting citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, that ban was later revised and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. Critics widely referred to it as a “Muslim ban,” citing Trump’s previous campaign promise to bar Muslims from entering the U.S.
The revived ban expands beyond the original scope, impacting a wider range of travelers including students, tourists, business professionals, and those seeking to reunite with family. Legal challenges are expected once again, with civil rights groups already expressing alarm at what they call discriminatory and xenophobic policymaking cloaked as national security.
While Trump insists the move is based solely on protecting American interests, immigration advocates and global leaders are bracing for the diplomatic and humanitarian fallout as the world watches how this new chapter of travel restrictions unfolds.