President Donald Trump has banned people from 12 countries from entering the US under a new proclamation signed on Wednesday, 4 June.
The travel ban will cover Afghanistan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
A further seven countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela – are subject to partial bans.
Trump says the list is subject to ongoing revisions, and countries could be removed if "material improvements" were made, and more could be added if "threats emerge around the world".
The order was announced via the White House's official social media channels. “We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen", President Trump said. “That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.”
Why now?
The White House says the ban is being put in place to protect Americans from “dangerous foreign actors.” Trump cited the recent attack in Colorado during a march in support of Israeli hostages, saying it underscored the dangers of foreign nationals who had “not been properly vetted”.
However, the man accused of carrying out the attack, which injured 12 people, is from Egypt, which has not been added to the list.
Trump is no stranger to travel bans. During his first term in 2017, he introduced a similar order on travel from specific nations.
Which countries are affected?
Nationals of the following 12 countries are banned from entering the US under Trump's new order
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Citizens from the following seven countries will face a partial travel ban
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Are there any exemptions?
There are some circumstances in which citizens from countries on the banned list will be granted entry into the US. The ban will not affect people in the following circumstances:
- Those who have dual citizenship with another country not included in the travel ban
- Afghan nationals who hold Special Immigrant Visas
- “Lawful permanent residents” of the US
- Those holding "immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran"
- Athletes travelling from major events, including the 2026 World Cup or the 2028 Olympics