Washington, D.C. – June 5, 2025 — In a major move aimed at protecting national security, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping travel ban affecting 19 countries. The decision comes after a violent attack in Boulder, Colorado, at a pro-Israel rally, allegedly carried out by an individual living in the U.S. illegally.
The new order includes a complete travel ban on 12 countries and partial restrictions on 7 others. The proclamation was signed by President Trump on Wednesday and will officially take effect on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. (Washington, DC time).
🔒 Full Travel Ban: 12 Countries Blocked from Entering the U.S.
Under this executive order, citizens from the following 12 nations will not be allowed to enter the U.S. under any visa category:
-
Afghanistan
-
Myanmar
-
Chad
-
Republic of the Congo
-
Equatorial Guinea
-
Eritrea
-
Haiti
-
Iran
-
Libya
-
Somalia
-
Sudan
-
Yemen
President Trump said these countries either pose a security threat or have governments that cannot properly share vetting information with the U.S. authorities.
⚠️ Partial Restrictions: 7 Countries Face Limited Entry
In addition to the full ban, the U.S. is imposing partial travel restrictions on 7 other nations. These countries will face limits on certain visa categories, especially tourist and student visas (such as B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas):
-
Burundi
-
Cuba
-
Laos
-
Sierra Leone
-
Togo
-
Turkmenistan
-
Venezuela
The administration pointed to high visa overstay rates and poor law enforcement cooperation as the main reasons for these new restrictions.
🗣️ Trump Speaks Out: “We Must Protect Our People”
In a video message released by the White House, Trump said:
“The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted. We don’t want them.”
He also added:
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen. That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.”
Trump also compared the move to his earlier travel ban during his first term, which focused mostly on Muslim-majority nations and was later upheld by the Supreme Court.
“We will restore the travel ban—some people call it the Trump travel ban—and keep the radical Islamic terrorists out of our country,” Trump stated.
📅 What Happens Next?
The order will take effect on Monday, June 9. However, visas already issued before that date will remain valid. People who have existing valid visas will not be affected immediately, but future applications from the banned countries will be denied.
The administration says this is a “national security priority” and a necessary step to prevent further tragedies.
✅ Summary
-
12 countries face a full travel ban
-
7 countries face partial travel restrictions
-
Trump cites the Colorado attack as the reason for urgent action
-
Order takes effect June 9, 2025
-
Visas issued before that date remain valid
This move is expected to spark political debate and legal challenges, much like the original travel ban from Trump’s first term. However, the administration insists that the primary goal is to protect American lives.
