List of 12 Countries Banned by Donald Trump Over Security Concerns

In a sweeping move echoing his controversial policy, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order enforcing a full travel ban on nationals from 12 countries. The announcement, made late Wednesday, reignites global concerns over U.S. immigration policies ahead of the 2025 election cycle.

The affected countries under the full travel ban include:
Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Yemen, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea.

In addition, partial travel restrictions have been placed on citizens from:
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Trump justified the executive order as a necessary step to protect the U.S. from external threats, referencing a recent attack in Colorado as a catalyst.

“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” Trump declared. “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.”

He emphasized that the United States cannot safely admit individuals from countries that cannot reliably provide criminal and background records or cooperate on deportations. Many of the listed countries are grappling with conflict or governance issues, according to the order.

While the travel ban is set to take effect on June 9, the executive order does provide room for case-by-case exemptions by the Secretary of State.

In a related move, Trump also signed a separate order blocking foreign nationals from studying or joining programs at Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League school of “radicalism,” “antisemitism,” and overreliance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The announcement is expected to spark debate across global diplomatic circles, academic institutions, and civil rights groups, echoing backlash from Trump’s prior immigration bans during his first term.