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A sweeping new travel ban introduced by United States President Donald Trump came into effect at midnight on Monday, blocking entry into the United States for citizens of 12 countries and reviving a controversial policy from his first term, BBC reported.
The measure, which the administration says is part of an intensified immigration crackdown, halts travel from nations including Iran, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Libya, countries that either face ongoing conflict or have strained relations with the US.
Citizens from Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are also barred from entering the country under the new order.
In addition, a partial travel ban has been placed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. While these countries face fewer restrictions, some categories of travel, such as temporary work visas remain available.
Trump said the decision followed a recent attack in Colorado, in which a group protesting in solidarity with hostages held in Gaza was assaulted. The attacker, according to officials, was an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa and had applied for asylum in 2022. Egypt was not included in the new restrictions.
“This attack underscores the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted,” Trump stated.
New countries could be added, Trump warned, “as threats emerged around the world.”
The proclamation cited several reasons for the bans, including lack of effective passport control in certain countries, the presence of terrorist threats, and a higher-than-average rate of visa overstays.
The US president said the list could be revised if “material improvements” were made, while other countries could be added as “threats emerge around the world”.
The White House confirmed that the ban will not apply to athletes participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, nor will it affect diplomats from the affected countries.
Human rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned the move. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk warned that the “broad and sweeping nature” of the ban raises significant international legal concerns.
US Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian-American, described the policy as “cruel and xenophobic,” vowing to oppose it.
The policy has sparked global criticism and diplomatic reactions. Chad announced the suspension of visa issuance for US citizens in response, while protests and unrest have been reported in several US cities, including Los Angeles, where federal immigration raids are underway.
Affected individuals, such as Afghan refugee applicant Mehria, expressed deep dismay. “We gave up thousands of hopes and our entire lives on a promise from America,” she told AFP.
