WASHINGTON, D.C. — A newly expanded U.S. travel ban signed by President Donald Trump has officially gone into effect, restricting immigration and visa access for citizens from 12 predominantly African and Middle Eastern countries. The move has sparked international backlash and renewed debate over America’s immigration policies.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the countries now facing full travel restrictions include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Citizens from these nations are barred from obtaining most immigrant and non-immigrant U.S. visas.
In addition, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela face partial restrictions, with limitations placed on specific visa categories.
The White House argues that the policy is a national security measure aimed at countries that either have weak identity-management systems or fail to cooperate with U.S. immigration enforcement. “This is about protecting the American people,” said Acting Homeland Security Secretary Marcus Fielding.
However, the decision has drawn widespread criticism. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the ACLU, have denounced the ban as discriminatory and unnecessary. The African Union also condemned the action, calling it “unjust and harmful to diplomatic ties.” In a swift response, Chad announced it will suspend U.S. visa issuance for American citizens.
The ban does allow certain exemptions, including for U.S. green card holders, current visa holders, dual nationals traveling on a different passport, diplomats, and applicants for humanitarian visas. Still, immigration attorneys warn that the policy will affect thousands of families and students.
This is the Trump administration’s most extensive travel ban since the original 2017 “Muslim Ban,” which faced intense legal battles and was later revised. Officials say the new version is more data-driven and designed to withstand court challenges.
As reactions continue to pour in globally, legal experts predict lawsuits challenging the ban’s scope and fairness are inevitable.
