President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new executive order reinstating a controversial travel ban that targets 12 nations, citing national security threats following a violent incident in Colorado.
The ban, effective Monday, blocks all travel to the U.S. from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, a partial ban affects seven more countries Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela restricting most travel but allowing limited temporary work visas.
Trump stated the move was prompted by a makeshift flamethrower attack at a Jewish protest in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by Mohammed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national who had overstayed a tourist visa and was seeking asylum.
“The recent terror attack in Boulder has underscored the dangers posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals,” Trump said in a video message. “We don’t want them.”
Despite the broad scope, exemptions will be made for athletes competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Legal experts predict challenges to the order, likening it to Trump’s 2017 travel ban targeting mostly Muslim-majority countries. That policy, which caused global disruptions and legal battles, was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in a revised form.
Trump also announced a separate visa restriction on new foreign students set to attend Harvard University, escalating his administration’s criticism of elite liberal institutions.
The order justifies the ban by citing security risks and inadequate passport vetting processes in the affected countries. Iran was included as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” while others were cited for high rates of visa overstays or lack of effective governance.
Venezuela denounced the move, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello warning citizens against traveling to the U.S., calling it “a great risk for anyone.”
Critics argue the ban unfairly targets vulnerable populations and disrupts families. “The impact will once again be felt by Americans separated from loved ones,” said Jamal Abdi of the National Iranian American Council.
The ban’s abrupt rollout, with no reporters present, mirrors Trump’s unpredictable policymaking style one that continues to stir fierce debate at home and abroad.
