Post – Colorado Attack, Trump Signs Proclamation Banning Entry from 12 Countries, Restricting 7 More

US President Trump Signs New Travel Ban Affecting 19 Nations, Cites Security Concerns

US President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation on Wednesday, June 4th, imposing a full travel ban on nationals from 12 countries and implementing partial entry restrictions on individuals from seven additional nations. This sweeping measure, citing national security concerns and deficiencies in foreign government screening processes, revives and broadens a contentious travel restriction policy from his first term in office. The new rules are set to take effect at 12:01 AM on Monday, June 9th.

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Scope of New Travel Restrictions

The proclamation fully suspends the entry of nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, The Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These countries were identified by the White House as "deficient with regards to screening and vetting" and posing a "very high risk to the United States."

Additionally, partial entry restrictions will apply to visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These limitations primarily affect immigrant visas and certain non-immigrant visa categories (such as B-1, B-2 business/tourist visas, and F, M, J student/exchange visitor visas), largely due to high visa overstay rates or insufficient cooperation with US law enforcement agencies regarding deportations.

Rationale and Context

In announcing the new measures, President Trump referred to a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an individual set fire to a pro-Israel demonstration, as underscoring the "extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted." He emphasized, "We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen." White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that the President was "fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors."

Specific reasons cited for the bans include the Taliban’s control in Afghanistan, alleged state-sponsored terrorism in Iran and Cuba, and high rates of visa overstays from countries like Chad and Eritrea. This action echoes the 2017 executive order that initially targeted seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy later rescinded by former President Joe Biden in 2021.

President Trump's new proclamation marks a significant re-imposition and expansion of travel restrictions based on national security assessments and immigration enforcement concerns. While aimed at safeguarding the United States, the move is likely to face scrutiny and reignite debates similar to those surrounding the administration's previous travel ban policies.