Trump Enforces Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Imposes Partial Restrictions on 7 Others [FULL LIST]

In a sweeping immigration directive aimed at bolstering national security, former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a comprehensive travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, alongside partial restrictions on individuals from an additional seven nations.

The measure, issued through a presidential proclamation on Wednesday, is set to take effect from 12:01 a.m. EDT (5:01 a.m. Nigerian time) on June 9, 2025.

“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video message posted on social media platform X.

Full Travel Ban: 12 Countries Affected

According to the proclamation, the following countries are under a complete travel ban to the United States:

• Afghanistan
• Myanmar
• Chad
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

These nations, the proclamation states, are either known to harbor terrorist organizations or have failed to meet U.S. standards for security cooperation, identity verification, or immigration compliance.

Partial Restrictions: 7 Countries Targeted

The countries subject to partial entry restrictions include:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

While citizens of these countries may still be eligible for limited categories of U.S. visas, certain non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications will face heightened scrutiny or suspension.

Rationale Behind the Policy

Trump defended the move as essential to preventing security threats, particularly those stemming from countries that pose a “significant terrorism risk” or have weak immigration controls. He cited several reasons for the restrictions, including:

• Presence of terrorist networks
• Inadequate cooperation on visa security matters
• Poor identity verification systems
• Lack of criminal record transparency
• High incidents of visa overstays

“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump added.

Proclamation Subject to Review

The former president also indicated that the list is not final, and additional countries could be included or removed depending on changes in their security protocols and diplomatic cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.

This latest action follows a long-standing Trump administration stance on immigration reform, national security, and border protection policies that have consistently drawn both support and criticism at home and abroad.