Washington: Trump’s new travel ban, which bars citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, officially took effect at 00 ET (0500 BST) on Monday. The executive order, signed by Trump last week, targets nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, nationals from seven more countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, will encounter partial travel restrictions.
According to BBC, the order allows for several exceptions, enabling certain individuals from the affected countries to still gain entry into the US. These exceptions include lawful permanent US residents and their immediate family members with immigrant visas, US government employees holding Special Immigrant Visas, dual nationals traveling on passports not from the banned countries, Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas, and holders of immigrant visas granted to ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran. Moreover, exemptions extend to foreign nationals traveling with specific non-immigrant visas and athletes, along with their teams and immediate family, when participating in major sporting events like the 2026 men's football World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The order further provides that the US Secretary of State may grant exemptions on a "case-by-case" basis if deemed in the US national interest. In a video on his Truth Social website last week, Trump cited a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, as evidence of the "extreme dangers" posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals. The incident on June 1 involved an Egyptian national, who was not from a banned country, injuring 12 people in a suspected terror attack using incendiary devices.
The travel ban is expected to face legal challenges and has already sparked international and domestic reactions. Chad responded by suspending all visas to US citizens, while Somalia expressed intent to collaborate with the US on security concerns. The African Union urged the US to engage in constructive discussions with the affected countries.
In the US, the move drew quick condemnation from Democrats. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal criticized the ban as an extension of Trump’s previous Muslim ban, warning it could further isolate the US internationally. Conversely, some officials, like Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, defended the move, asserting that travel to the US is "a privilege, not a right."