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President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday evening reinstating and expanding the so-called "Travel Ban," a controversial immigration policy from his first term. The decision, according to istration officials speaking to CBS News, is based on "significant national security risks" and targets countries allegedly failing to meet U.S. standards for identity verification, information-sharing, and visa compliance.
"President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors," said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson. She emphasized that the restrictions are "commonsense and country-specific," focused on nations with high visa overstay rates or inadequate threat information-sharing practices.
The announcement follows a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, during a march ing Israeli hostages held by Hamas. While the istration has not directly linked the incident to the policy, officials used the event to highlight the need for tightened border controls.
The 12 Countries Fully Banned
The new proclamation completely bans the entry of nationals from 12 countries, allowing only limited exceptions. According to officials, these countries pose heightened risks or fail to comply with minimum U.S. security standards. The full ban applies to:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Citizens of these nations face a complete entry ban, with narrow exceptions for cases such as international adoptions, lawful permanent residents, athletes in global competitions, diplomatic travelers, or those granted national interest waivers.
Partial Restrictions on Seven Countries
In addition to the full bans, the proclamation imposes partial restrictions on nationals from seven other countries. While not entirely prohibited, travelers from these nations face tougher visa requirements or limitations on specific visa categories, such as tourism or temporary employment. These countries are:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela (targeted mainly at government officials and their families)
In the case of Venezuela, as in previous versions of the ban, the restrictions primarily affect high-ranking officials and do not apply broadly to ordinary citizens.
Exceptions Included in the Proclamation
Despite the scope of the new restrictions, the proclamation includes a number of specific exemptions. These apply to:
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- International adoptions
- Dual nationals traveling with a port from a non-restricted country
- Diplomatic, U.N., and NATO visa holders
- Athletes and sports personnel traveling for international events (e.g., the Olympics or World Cup)
- Immediate family of U.S. citizens applying for immigrant visas
- Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. government employees
- Immigrant visas for ethnic or religious minorities, particularly in Iran
With this proclamation, Trump once again places immigration control at the core of his political agenda, reviving one of his most polarizing policies. Though the restrictions include humanitarian and diplomatic carveouts, the impact on thousands seeking to enter the U.S.-for work, study, or family reunification-will be substantial.
Analysts anticipate the policy may face new legal challenges, as happened during Trump's first term. However, with a ive Supreme Court and a political base that values his tough stance on national security, Trump appears committed to pursuing this policy aggressively.