Trump imposes full-entry travel ban on nationals from 12 countries

United States: President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a full-entry travel ban on nationals from 12 countries, including India’s neighbor Afghanistan.

Other countries on the list include Burma (Myanmar), Iran, and Libya. In addition, partial restrictions have been placed on travelers from seven more nations.

The proclamation, issued late Wednesday night, will take effect starting Monday.

According to a White House statement, the full travel ban targets nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—countries flagged as “very high risk” due to inadequate security screening, terrorism concerns, or lack of cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement.

Partial travel restrictions have been imposed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These restrictions affect both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories (B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, J), due to issues like high visa overstay rates and limited cooperation in law enforcement matters.

“We cannot have open migration from countries where we cannot safely and reliably vet people,” Trump said in a video statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “That is why I am signing a new executive order imposing travel restrictions on countries such as Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and others.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson also posted on X, stating: “President Trump is delivering on his promise to protect the American people from foreign threats. These targeted restrictions address specific national security risks, including poor identity verification processes, visa overstays, and a lack of information sharing. President Trump will always prioritize the safety and security of Americans.”