Trump Imposes Travel Ban on 12 Countries
News Desk
Islamabad: President Donald Trump has reinstated a sweeping travel ban targeting 12 countries, echoing one of the most controversial actions of his first term. The new restrictions come in response to a recent attack in Colorado, which authorities say was carried out by an undocumented immigrant.
The full travel ban applies to nationals from Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. Additionally, partial restrictions were placed on seven countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — limiting most travel but allowing certain temporary work visas.
The bans will take effect Monday, according to the White House.
In a video address from the Oval Office, Trump said the move was a response to a flamethrower-style attack on a pro-Israel protest in Boulder, Colorado. Authorities identified the suspect as Egyptian national Mohammed Sabry Soliman, who allegedly overstayed a tourist visa and later applied for asylum in 2022.
“The recent terror attack in Boulder shows the risks of allowing poorly vetted foreign nationals into our country,” Trump said. “We don’t want them.”
Exceptions for Major Sporting Events
Trump’s executive order makes exceptions for athletes participating in the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, exempting them from the travel restrictions.
The president also announced a separate visa ban for new international students planning to attend Harvard University, accusing the institution of fostering liberal ideology.
Trump likened the new order to his 2017 travel ban that primarily affected Muslim-majority countries. That policy triggered global uproar and was heavily litigated in U.S. courts before being upheld by the Supreme Court.
“We will not let what happened in Europe happen here,” Trump declared. “We must block entry from countries where proper vetting is impossible.”
International Reaction and Legal Pushback
Venezuela responded by warning its citizens against traveling to the U.S., calling it a dangerous destination. “Being in the United States is a risk for anyone, not just Venezuelans,” said Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
The new ban, announced suddenly and without media present, follows growing speculation after the Boulder attack. Homeland Security officials have vowed to pursue individuals considered national security threats who are living in the U.S. on visas.
The administration defended the ban as necessary to prevent terrorism and cited specific concerns for each country on the list. Nations such as Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen were flagged for lacking reliable systems to issue and verify passports. Iran was included for its designation as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
Egypt, notably, was not included in the restrictions despite the nationality of the Colorado suspect.
Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, criticized the move: “Once again, Americans will suffer, missing out on weddings, funerals, and the birth of loved ones due to discriminatory travel bans.”
Trump’s order also cited high visa overstay rates as a reason for restrictions on several of the partially banned countries.
