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EPAWASHINGTON – The White House has announced that President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation that restricts travel to the United States from twelve countries,citing concerns about national security.
According to the White House,the list of affected countries may be revised if “material improvements” are implemented.The president also indicated that additional countries could be added to the list if “threats emerge around the world.”
This marks the second time that president Trump has imposed a ban on travel from specific nations, with a similar order being signed in 2017 during his first term.
Which Countries Are Impacted by the Travel Ban?
Table of Contents
The proclamation signed by President Trump restricts entry to the US for nationals from the following twelve countries:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
In addition, there are seven countries facing partial travel restrictions:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
The ban is scheduled to take affect on Monday at 12:01 (05:01 BST), providing a buffer to prevent the airport chaos that occurred eight years prior when a similar measure was enacted with little notice.
“This ban, expanded from Trump’s Muslim ban in his first term, will only further isolate us on the world stage.”
Justification for the travel Ban
The White House stated that these “common sense restrictions” are necessary to “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.”
In a video shared on his Truth social platform, President Trump asserted that the recent alleged terror attack in boulder, Colorado, “underscored the extreme dangers” posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals.
The incident in Colorado involved a man attacking a gathering in support of Israeli hostages,resulting in injuries to twelve people. The attacker reportedly used incendiary devices and a makeshift flamethrower.
The suspect has been identified as an egyptian national.
Reactions to the Travel Ban
president Trump’s recent order has been met with swift reactions both domestically and internationally, and is anticipated to face legal challenges.
Somalia has pledged to collaborate with the United States to address any security concerns. Dahir Hassan abdi, the somali ambassador to the US, affirmed his country’s commitment to its “longstanding relationship” with America in a public statement.
Diosdado Cabello,Venezuela’s Interior Minister,cautioned that “being in the United States is a great risk for anyone,not just for Venezuelans.”
Democrats have largely condemned the travel ban.
Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat congresswoman representing Washington, stated in a social media post, “This ban, expanded from Trump’s Muslim ban in his first term, will only further isolate us on the world stage.”
Representative Don Beyer,another Democrat,accused President Trump of having “betrayed” the ideals of the US’ founders.
A Look Back at the 2017 Travel ban
President Trump’s initial travel ban was issued in 2017 during his first term and included some of the same countries as the current order, such as iran, Libya, and Somalia.
Critics denounced it as a “Muslim ban” because the seven countries initially listed had Muslim-majority populations.
Later, the White House revised the policy, adding North Korea and Venezuela, which are not muslim-majority countries.
The supreme Court upheld the ban in 2018.
President Joe Biden, upon succeeding President Trump, rescinded the ban in 2021, describing it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
