Donald Trump has banned citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States that he deems to have a “hostile” attitude.
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because it is. The move echoes Trump’s first-term travel ban, initially targeting predominantly Muslim countries and sparking outrage, protests, and legal challenges across the US, per Sky News.
Back then, the list included Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. That order was revised multiple times before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Now, Trump’s new version drops Syria (after a recent meeting with its leader) but adds fresh names, while triggering the same outrage.
Citizens from 12 countries are now fully banned from entering the US: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Another seven countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela - face partial restrictions.
“This discriminatory policy, which limits legal immigration, not only flies in the face of what our country is supposed to stand for, it will be harmful to our economy and communities that rely on the contributions of people who come to America from this wide range of countries,” said Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
In a video statement posted to social media, Trump cited national security and the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, carried out by an Egyptian national, as the final straw.
He said the attack “underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas.”
Trump then added: “We don’t want them.”
The White House echoed that line, claiming some banned countries have “a significant terrorist presence” or “poor screening” protocols. Others, officials say, refuse to accept deported individuals, per the Guardian.
Trump’s proclamation also insists that people entering the US must not hold “hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles” and must not support terror groups.
There are exceptions: athletes competing in the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, permanent US residents, and Afghans with special immigrant visas will still be allowed entry.
The list is also subject to change. Trump said it was “subject to revisions based on whether material improvements are made” and warned that “new countries could be added as threats emerge around the world.”
The proclamation is scheduled for review within 90 days of taking effect (on June 9), and again every 180 days after that. At each interval, it may be “continued, terminated, modified, or supplemented.”
Joe Biden had revoked Trump’s original travel ban on his first day in office in 2021. Now, with Trump back, the rebooted ban is broader and even more complex, layered with travel restrictions, visa crackdowns, and social media screenings.
Trump has also ordered consulates to screen the social media accounts of anyone applying for a visa to study at Harvard University and announced plans to limit foreign student visas altogether.