U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced sweeping new travel bans and restrictions affecting 19 countries, citing national security and immigration enforcement as the driving factors behind the move.
The Trump administration claims the action targets nations with “inadequate traveler screening processes,” the presence of terrorist organizations, and poor cooperation in repatriating their citizens who are deported from the United States.
Some of the countries were also highlighted for having high rates of visa overstays.
12 countries face full travel bans
A total of 12 countries have been completely banned from entering the United States under the new directive. These include:
- African nations: Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Sudan
- Others: Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Myanmar, and Yemen
Citizens from these nations will be denied entry to the U.S. under all standard visa categories, according to the administration’s statement.
7 additional countries face visa restrictions
In addition to the outright bans, seven other countries have been placed under strict visa restrictions. While citizens from these nations are not fully banned, they will face delayed or limited visa processing:
- African nations: Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togo
- Others: Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela
The move has drawn criticism from rights groups and immigration advocates, who argue that such blanket bans often disproportionately affect innocent travelers and strain diplomatic relations.
The Trump administration defended the decision, insisting it is necessary to “protect American lives and uphold the integrity of the nation’s immigration system.” The timeline f
