Washington: President Donald Trump has reinstated and expanded his travel-restriction policy, officially barring citizens from 12 countries starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Monday, the White House announced on Sunday.

The full ban covers Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Meanwhile, seven other nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—now face partial entry restrictions under the policy

Justifying the measures, President Trump cited national security fears, accusing the banned countries of harboring “large scale presence of terrorists,” lacking effective identity-verification systems, and failing to maintain adequate criminal records—including high visa overstay rates. He also referenced a gasoline-bomb attack at a pro-Israel march in Boulder, Colorado, as proof of the rising threats, though he clarified that Egypt—where the perpetrator originated—is not included in the ban


The announcement has triggered swift international and domestic backlash. Iran’s foreign ministry denounced the ban as reflective of "deep hostility" toward Iranians and Muslims and accused it of violating international law. In Central Africa, Chad’s President responded swiftly, declaring a halt to visa issuance for U.S. citizens, saying, “Chad has neither planes to offer nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and its pride”. The Republic of the Congo called its inclusion a “misunderstanding”


Within the U.S., Democratic lawmakers condemned the move as draconian and unconstitutional. Representative Ro Khanna stated, “People have a right to seek asylum,” while attorneys warn of imminent legal challenges. Meanwhile, affected communities expressed panic and sorrow—Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. military and aid efforts fear returning to Taliban-controlled territories. In the Bay Area and elsewhere, immigrant groups described the shift as sowing anxiety, family separation, and fueling xenophobia

The ban includes narrow exemptions—for U.S. permanent residents, dual nationals, diplomats, athletes, and Special Immigrant Visa holders—and guarantees visas issued before June 9 remain valid. Legal experts anticipate immediate courtroom battles—though the policy could survive in part under narrow narrow accommodations.