Washington, D.C. [US], June 5 (ANI):
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new proclamation barring the entry of foreign nationals from 12 countries and imposing partial travel restrictions on seven additional nations, citing national security and public safety concerns.
According to a statement released by the White House, the full travel ban applies to nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In parallel, entry from seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—has been limited under new guidelines that differentiate between immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories.
President Trump’s proclamation echoes policy precedents from his first term, noting that similar restrictions were previously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The document, signed on June 4, 2025, is framed within Executive Order 14161, titled Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.
“The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process,” the proclamation asserts. It warns of foreign nationals “who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”
Trump stressed the need for thorough scrutiny of visa applicants to ensure that those admitted do not harbor hostility toward American values, institutions, or citizens, and do not support or facilitate terrorism.
In differentiating between immigrant and nonimmigrant entries, Trump highlighted that immigrants—who receive lawful permanent resident status—pose a longer-term security risk due to the difficulty in deporting them once admitted. He emphasized that vetting procedures remain unreliable in cases where foreign governments lack effective identity verification systems or do not cooperate with U.S. information-sharing protocols.
The proclamation justifies the full travel bans based on each country’s unique risk profile. Afghanistan was singled out due to Taliban control, lack of a functioning central authority, and inadequate documentation and screening systems. Myanmar (Burma) was flagged for its high visa overstay rates—27.07% for B1/B2 visas and 42.17% for F, M, and J visas—as well as for non-cooperation in repatriating its nationals. Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and others were cited for long-standing national security risks and failure to meet U.S. vetting standards.
The seven nations under partial restrictions face tailored limitations depending on visa category and security vetting history. The administration has emphasized that the measure is intended not just to protect U.S. citizens, but also to pressure foreign governments to comply with information-sharing and repatriation agreements.
Trump concluded the proclamation by stressing that the restrictions are “essential to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose,” and that they support the broader goals of national security, counterterrorism, and foreign policy alignment.
The travel ban goes into effect on June 9, 2025, with implementation overseen by the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security. (ANI)
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