Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation that bars citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, citing national security concerns.
The directive, which was signed on Wednesday evening, is scheduled to take effect on Monday.
According to a statement from the White House, the proclamation aims to safeguard the country from perceived threats posed by foreign nationals.
It fully restricted entry for citizens from a dozen nations deemed to have insufficient vetting procedures and considered high-risk to American security.
The countries affected by the full ban include: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition, the proclamation places partial entry restrictions on citizens of seven other countries considered to pose a high level of risk. These countries are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
However, the restrictions come with exemptions. Individuals who already hold valid visas, lawful permanent residents, and those in certain visa categories, as well as persons whose entry is deemed to be in the national interest of the United States, may not be affected.
The U.S. government explained that these measures are intended to encourage cooperation from foreign governments, enforce immigration regulations, and support broader national security, counterterrorism, and foreign policy goals.
Commenting on the move, Trump reiterated his commitment to maintaining strict border controls, stating: “We will reinstate the travel ban—some call it the Trump travel ban—and ensure that radical Islamic terrorists do not gain access to our country.”
During his first term, Trump introduced a similar travel ban targeting nations with inadequate security screening protocols. The U.S. Supreme Court later upheld the policy, ruling that it was within the scope of presidential authority and based on legitimate national security objectives.
The White House emphasized that the President has a constitutional responsibility to protect the American people, and the latest decision follows a detailed security assessment provided by the Secretary of State in collaboration with other key officials.
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