Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Travel from 12 Nations
New U.S. travel ban targets countries deemed "security threats," expanding on Trump’s controversial immigration restrictions.
Watan-On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from traveling to the United States. The White House justified the move as a measure to “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.”
According to a presidential statement, the ban applies to citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, in addition to seven other countries that already face travel restrictions under Trump’s prior actions.
This decision is part of a broader set of hardline policies adopted by the Trump administration since his inauguration in January 2017, especially regarding immigration and national security. Early in his term, Trump issued what became widely known as the “Muslim ban,” targeting majority-Muslim nations and sparking widespread controversy and accusations of religious and racial discrimination.
Despite multiple legal challenges, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the third version of the ban in June 2018, ruling that it falls within the president’s authority to protect national security. Since then, the administration has expanded the list of affected countries based on what it calls “security assessments” regarding each nation’s ability to share data and verify traveler identities.
These decisions have faced sharp criticism from human rights groups and members of Congress, who view them as discriminatory and contrary to American values. However, the Trump administration maintains that the measures are essential for safeguarding the country from potential threats.
