U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed a new proclamation reinstating a sweeping travel ban affecting citizens from 19 countries, including 10 African nations, citing national security and public safety concerns. The ban, which takes effect on Monday, marks a return to one of the most controversial policies of his first term.
“Today (Wednesday), President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation to protect the nation from foreign terrorist and other national security and public safety threats from entry into the United States,” read a statement issued by the White House.
The proclamation, according to the statement, “fully restricts and limits” the entry of nationals from 12 countries that U.S. authorities have found to be deficient in their security screening and vetting procedures. These countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition to the full ban, the Trump administration is also imposing “partial restrictions and limitations” on seven other countries whose citizens are deemed to pose a high level of risk. These nations are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Despite the broad scope of the restrictions, the White House clarified that the policy includes several exceptions. These cover lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, applicants in specific visa categories, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve the national interest of the United States.
The administration emphasized that the new travel restrictions are part of broader efforts to enforce immigration laws and encourage cooperation from foreign governments in meeting U.S. security standards.
Mr. Trump, defending the move, stated, “We will restore the travel ban, some people call it the Trump travel ban, and keep the radical Islamic terrorists out of our country that was upheld by the Supreme Court.”
The travel ban was one of the hallmark policies of Trump’s first term in office. Initially introduced in 2017, it sparked legal battles and widespread protest, but was ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that the measure “is squarely within the scope of presidential authority” and is “expressly premised on legitimate purposes.”
In the latest proclamation, the White House reaffirmed that it “is the president’s sacred duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people.”
The administration added, “After evaluating a report submitted by the Secretary of State, in coordination with other cabinet officials, President Trump has determined that the entry of nationals from certain countries must be restricted or limited to protect U.S. national security and public safety interests.”
