U.S. President Donald Trump has reinstated and expanded a controversial travel ban, blocking citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and imposing new restrictions on travelers from seven others.
The administration says the action, effective Monday at 12:01 a.m., is meant to protect national security and guard against terrorism.
The newly banned countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Citizens from these nations will be barred from entering the U.S. entirely.
Additional heightened restrictions will apply to individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela specifically targeting those who are outside the U.S. and do not hold a valid visa.
The ban stems from an executive order President Trump issued on January 20, which directed the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on countries with what the administration describes as “hostile attitudes” toward the United States.
The administration said the goal is to “protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”
In a video posted to social media, President Trump tied the announcement to a terrorist attack that occurred Sunday in Boulder, Colorado.
The man charged in the incident is from Egypt a country not included in the new restrictions and reportedly overstayed his tourist visa.
Trump argued the attack underscores the risks posed by some visitors who remain in the country unlawfully.
Critics of the move have pointed to the absence of Egypt from the restricted list and accused the administration of targeting predominantly African and Muslim-majority nations.
Human rights advocates warn the policy could further marginalize vulnerable populations fleeing conflict and persecution.
Despite the backlash, the Trump administration remains firm in its stance, and no end date for the travel ban has been provided.
