By Emmanuel Kwada
President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation barring citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, effective June 9, 2025, citing national security concerns. The countries under full travel restrictions are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The administration cited issues such as poor record-keeping of criminal histories, high visa overstay rates, and inadequate systems for verifying travelers’ identities
Additionally, partial restrictions will be imposed on citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These measures aim to prevent potential security risks and ensure the safety of US citizens.
The administration cited issues such as poor record-keeping of criminal histories, high visa overstay rates, and inadequate systems for verifying travelers’ identities as contributing factors.
The new directive builds on Trump’s broader immigration crackdown initiated at the beginning of his second term. On January 20, the president signed an executive order mandating stricter security checks for foreign nationals and instructing federal agencies to review which countries should face entry suspensions due to inadequate vetting procedures.
Lawful permanent residents and individuals traveling on specific diplomatic and athletic visas are also excluded
Some exemptions apply, including athletes traveling for major sporting events, certain Afghan nationals, and dual nationals with citizenship in unaffected countries. Lawful permanent residents and individuals traveling on specific diplomatic and athletic visas are also excluded.
This move echoes Trump’s controversial travel ban during his first term, which initially targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries and was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. The ban was later repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021, who described it as “a stain on our national conscience”.
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