Washington: A new travel ban ordered by Donald Trump has come into effect, barring citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States. The order, signed by Trump last week, includes nations such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
According to BBC, the ban introduces partial travel restrictions for nationals from an additional seven countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. However, exceptions exist for certain groups of people, such as lawful permanent U.S. residents, their immediate family members holding immigrant visas, and U.S. government employees with Special Immigrant Visas. Dual nationals traveling on non-restricted passports, Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas, and those with immigrant visas due to persecution in Iran are also exempt.
Moreover, foreign nationals with specific non-immigrant visas and athletes, along with their teams and immediate family, traveling for major sporting events like the 2026 Men's World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, will be permitted entry. The U.S. Secretary of State holds the authority to grant exemptions on a "case-by-case" basis if deemed in the national interest.
Trump cited a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, as a catalyst for the ban, emphasizing the dangers posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals. The FBI identified the suspect in the Boulder incident as an Egyptian national, although Egypt is not on the banned countries list. Twelve individuals were injured in the attack, which involved incendiary devices.
The order has sparked reactions both domestically and internationally. Chad responded by suspending all visas to U.S. citizens, and Somalia expressed willingness to collaborate with the U.S. on security issues. The African Union urged the U.S. to engage in dialogue with affected countries.
In the United States, the ban has drawn criticism from Democrats, with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal deeming it an expansion of Trump's initial Muslim ban, potentially leading to further global isolation. In contrast, some, like Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, support the measure, asserting that U.S. travel is a privilege rather than a right.