By Jennifer McChriston | Washington Correspondent
Washington D.C., 6 June 2025 – In a sweeping executive move, United States President Donald Trump has announced a new travel ban targeting nationals from several countries, citing heightened national security concerns. The decision follows a violent incident last Sunday in Boulder, Colorado, during a march in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Signed on Wednesday, the presidential proclamation imposes full entry restrictions on citizens of twelve nations: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. A further seven countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will face partial entry limitations, according to the directive.
White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson, in an official statement to CBS News, said:
“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors who seek to enter our country and cause harm. These commonsense, country-specific restrictions address gaps in vetting, excessive visa overstays, and failures to share security-related information.”
She further noted that the administration remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s borders while implementing measured and legally sound security measures.
Exemptions and Special Cases
According to White House guidance, certain categories of individuals will be exempt from the restrictions. These include:
Lawful permanent residents
International adoptions
Dual nationals travelling on passports from unrestricted countries
Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders
Diplomatic, U.N., or NATO visa holders
Athletes and staff travelling for global sporting events such as the Olympics or World Cup
Immediate family members of U.S. citizens
Religious and ethnic minority visa applicants from Iran
Individuals qualifying for national interest waivers
International Response
The proclamation has already drawn sharp criticism from some of the affected nations. Notably, Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby announced a reciprocal suspension of visa issuance to American nationals.
Posting via his official social media channels, President Déby stated:
“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens.”
While acknowledging the global economic and military stature of the United States, President Déby reaffirmed Chad’s commitment to “defending our national dignity and sovereignty.”
As the international community reacts, the new policy is expected to trigger broader diplomatic discussions, particularly among countries facing direct restrictions
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