Trump's New Travel Ban: What We Know About the Latest Restrictions

In a move that has stirred both support and criticism, former U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a new travel ban affecting several countries. The decision, according to the White House, is based on national security concerns.

Tougher Travel Rules on the Way

Trump has signed an order that blocks citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States. This marks the second time he has issued such a ban, with the first occurring in 2017 during his initial term in office.

The countries under the latest full ban include:

• Afghanistan

• Myanmar

• Chad

• Congo

• Equatorial Guinea

• Eritrea

• Haiti

• Iran

• Libya

• Somalia

• Sudan

• Yemen

In addition, seven other countries face partial travel restrictions. These are:

• Burundi

• Cuba

• Laos

• Sierra Leone

• Togo

• Turkmenistan

• Venezuela

The ban will take effect starting Monday at 12:01 a.m. Officials say they are giving a few days' notice this time to avoid the chaos that followed Trump’s 2017 ban, which was implemented without warning.

Focus Keyword: Travel Ban Sparks Global Reactions

Trump claims this "common-sense ban" is necessary to protect Americans from what he calls "dangerous foreign threats." He mentioned a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, during a rally in support of Israeli hostages, where a man injured 12 people using homemade fire devices. The suspect, reportedly an Egyptian citizen, has been linked to the justification for the new policy.

In a video posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump argued that the attack proves how unchecked foreign individuals can pose a serious threat to national safety.

Global and Political Response

Unsurprisingly, the order has triggered a strong backlash at home and abroad. In Somalia, officials expressed their willingness to work with the U.S. to address any security concerns. Somalia’s ambassador to the U.S., Dahir Hanan Abdi, emphasized the importance of long-standing friendship between the two nations.

However, Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello slammed the decision, warning that “living in America is a risk not just for Venezuelans, but for anyone.”

Democrats have been quick to criticize the move. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from Washington called the action an expansion of Trump’s earlier “Muslim ban,” arguing it further isolates the U.S. on the world stage. Another lawmaker, Don Beyer, said Trump’s action betrays American values.

Background: A Repeat of 2017

Trump’s 2017 travel ban targeted seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Libya, and Somalia — all of which are on the new list. At the time, critics labeled it a “Muslim ban.” The White House later added non-Muslim countries like North Korea and Venezuela to the list.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban. But in 2021, President Joe Biden reversed the decision, calling it a stain on the nation’s dignity.

Now, Trump’s new order reignites that same debate, once again placing America’s immigration policies under the global spotlight.