Trump’s travel ban affecting 12 nations takes effect

WASHINGTON,— A new U.S. travel restriction targeting 12 countries is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (0401 GMT) on Monday, according to a White House statement.

The order, issued by President Donald Trump, blocks entry into the United States for citizens from a group of nations the administration describes as security risks.

The ban includes travelers from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Citizens of seven additional countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — will face limited entry restrictions, the administration said.

The Trump administration cited concerns such as inadequate identity verification, poor visa enforcement, and failure to share criminal or security information as reasons for the policy. “Some of these countries have a significant terrorist presence or do not meet our visa requirements,” Trump said.

The president referenced an incident last Sunday in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian citizen reportedly threw a gasoline bomb into a crowd. Egypt is not included in the ban.

This measure follows Trump’s prior immigration restrictions during his first term, which barred entry from several Muslim-majority countries. That initial ban faced legal challenges but was later revised.

Officials in some of the affected nations responded with criticism. Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said his country would stop issuing visas to U.S. citizens in response.

“Chad may not have jets or billions to donate, but it has its pride,” Deby wrote on Facebook, appearing to contrast Chad with Qatar, which has provided luxury aircraft and financial support to the U.S.

Afghan nationals who worked with U.S. agencies voiced fears over the change, saying they could be left vulnerable to Taliban reprisals if their resettlement is blocked.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat, denounced the action as “unconstitutional” in a post online Thursday night. “People have a right to seek asylum,” he added.

A similar executive order signed by Trump in 2017 barred travelers from six Muslim-majority nations but excluded Iraq following legal disputes.

(With files from Reuters)