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Tag: travel ban

  • Trump Adds Full Travel Bans on Seven Countries, Includes Palestinians

    Trump Adds Full Travel Bans on Seven Countries, Includes Palestinians

    President Donald Trump signed an executive order on AI at the White House in Washington, D.C., on December 11, 2025. — Reuters

    On Tuesday, President Donald Trump expanded the U.S. travel restrictions by banning citizens from seven additional countries, including Syria, as well as passport holders from the Palestinian Authority, from entering the United States.

    According to the White House, Trump, who has long been an advocate for tighter immigration controls, took this action “to safeguard the security of the United States.”

    A White House statement explained, “President Trump signed a proclamation that further restricts and limits the entry of foreign nationals to the U.S.”

    This measure imposes complete restrictions and entry bans on individuals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, adding to the original list of 12 countries.

    “Full restrictions are also now in place for individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority,” the statement added.

    This is a developing story and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

  • US Expands Travel Ban to Over 30 Countries: Official Announcement

    US Expands Travel Ban to Over 30 Countries: Official Announcement

    The United States is planning to widen its travel ban list to include more than 30 countries, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. During an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Noem was asked if the Trump administration would increase the list to 32 countries. She responded, “I can’t specify the exact number, but it’s over 30, and the president is continuing to review additional countries.”

    In June, President Trump issued a proclamation banning citizens from 12 nations from entering the U.S. and imposing restrictions on travelers from seven others. He justified these measures as necessary to protect against foreign terrorists and other security threats. These bans affect both immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists, students, and business visitors. Noem did not specify which new countries might be added.

    She emphasized, “If a nation doesn’t have a stable government or the capacity to identify and vet its citizens, why should we allow people from that country to come here?” Previously, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was considering banning travelers from an additional 36 countries, based on an internal State Department memo.

    Expanding the list would be a further step in the administration’s recent tightening of immigration policies, especially following the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Investigators traced the attack to an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under a refugee program. Trump responded by pledging to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries,” though he did not specify which nations.

    Before that, DHS officials indicated that Trump had ordered a review of asylum cases approved under the previous administration of President Joe Biden, along with green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries. Since resuming office in January, Trump has aggressively ramped up immigration enforcement, sending federal agents into major cities and turning away asylum seekers at the border. While his focus has often been on deportations, his efforts to reform legal immigration processes have received comparatively less attention.

  • US stops all immigration applications from 19 non-European nations

    US stops all immigration applications from 19 non-European nations

    The Trump administration has announced a pause on all immigration applications, including green cards and U.S. citizenship processes, for immigrants coming from 19 non-European countries. This move was justified by concerns over national security and public safety. The pause affects individuals from the 19 nations already included in a partial travel ban established in June, which imposed additional restrictions on immigration—an important part of President Donald Trump’s political agenda.

    Countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia are among those impacted. The new policy, outlined in a formal memorandum, references last week’s attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, where an Afghan suspect was arrested. The incident resulted in one Guard member’s death and another’s critical injury.

    Recently, Trump has intensified rhetoric against Somalis, labeling them as “garbage” and expressing a desire to exclude them from the country. Since re-taking office in January, Trump has aggressively ramped up immigration enforcement efforts, deploying federal agents to major cities and turning away asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

    While his administration has frequently promoted deportation campaigns, its focus on reforming legal immigration has been relatively subdued until now. The new restrictions signal a shift, emphasizing national security concerns and tying recent violence to alleged threats from immigrants, while also shifting blame towards the Biden administration’s policies.

    The list of countries targeted in the latest memorandum includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These nations experienced the strictest immigration restrictions in June, including a complete suspension of entries with a few exceptions.

    Additional countries on the list—such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—faced partial restrictions previously. The new policy halts pending applications and requires all immigrants from these countries to undergo a rigorous re-review process, which may include interviews or re-interviews to assess potential security risks.

    The memorandum also cites several recent crimes allegedly linked to immigrants, including the attack on the National Guard. Representatives from the American Immigration Lawyers Association have reported cancellations of naturalization ceremonies, interviews, and status adjustments for individuals from countries on the travel ban list.

  • Trump’s Travel Ban on 12 Nations, Including Iran and Afghanistan, Begins

    Trump’s Travel Ban on 12 Nations, Including Iran and Afghanistan, Begins

    US President Donald Trump addresses the media aboard Air Force One while traveling to New Jersey, June 6, 2025. — Reuters

    • President Trump announces measures to safeguard the United States.
    • Travel ban is part of Trump’s strategy to limit immigration.
    • Democratic lawmakers express concerns over government policies.

    WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s directive to prohibit citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States takes effect at 12:01 AM ET (4:01 AM GMT) on Monday. This action is framed by the president as necessary for protecting the nation from “foreign terrorists.”

    The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

    Additionally, entry from seven other nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will be subject to partial restrictions.

    Trump, representing the Republican party, stated that these countries are perceived to harbor a “significant presence of terrorists,” lack cooperation on visa security, are unable to confirm identities of travelers, and have unsatisfactory records of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S.

    He pointed to a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian citizen threw a gasoline bomb into a group of pro-Israel protesters, illustrating the need for these new restrictions, even though Egypt is not included in the travel ban.

    This travel ban is part of Trump’s broader immigration policy and evokes memories of a similar executive order issued during his first term, which targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries.

    Leaders and citizens from the nations impacted by the ban expressed shock and disbelief. Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced he has instructed his government to cease issuing visas to U.S. citizens in retaliation for Trump’s decision.

    “Chad doesn’t have planes to offer or billions of dollars to donate, but we do have our dignity and our pride,” he said in a Facebook post, indirectly referencing countries like Qatar, which provided the U.S. with a luxurious aircraft for Trump’s personal use and pledged substantial investments in the U.S.

    Afghans who supported the U.S. or participated in U.S.-funded initiatives are now worried that this travel ban might compel them to return to Afghanistan, where they could face retaliation from the Taliban.

    Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. are also expressing their worries about this policy. “Trump’s travel ban affecting citizens from over 12 nations is harsh and unconstitutional,” tweeted U.S. Representative Ro Khanna late Thursday. “Everyone has the right to seek asylum.”

  • Iran: US Travel Ban Reveals a ‘Racist Mentality’

    Iran: US Travel Ban Reveals a ‘Racist Mentality’

    TEHRAN: Iran criticized the recently announced U.S. travel ban affecting Iranians and citizens from 11 other nations, primarily in the Middle East and Africa, labeling the move as indicative of a "racist mindset."

    On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order reinstating broad travel restrictions reminiscent of his earlier ban, citing national security concerns following a firebombing that occurred at a pro-Israel rally in Colorado.

    Alireza Hashemi-Raja, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s director general for the affairs of Iranians abroad, described the policy, set to begin on June 9, as a "clear indication of the prevalence of a supremacist and racist mentality among American officials." He further asserted that the ban "exposes the deep-seated animosity" of U.S. policymakers toward both Iranian and Muslim communities.

    In addition to Iran, the travel restrictions extend to nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. There are also partial restrictions applied to travelers from several other countries.

    Hashemi-Raja stated that this policy "contradicts fundamental principles of international law" and unfairly restricts "hundreds of millions from exercising their right to travel due solely to their nationality or religion." He emphasized that such discriminatory actions would lead to "international accountability for the U.S. government," although he did not elaborate further.

    The United States and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, resulting in consistently strained interactions. Currently, the U.S. hosts the largest Iranian population outside of Iran, with estimates from Iran’s foreign ministry suggesting about 1.5 million Iranians lived in the U.S. as of 2020.

    This latest executive order follows the Colorado rally incident, which resulted in injuries to over a dozen individuals. The suspect in the attack is an Egyptian man who allegedly overstayed his tourist visa.

  • Trump Imposes Travel Ban on Iran, Afghanistan, and 10 More Nations

    Trump Imposes Travel Ban on Iran, Afghanistan, and 10 More Nations

    Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content in American English, made unique:

    Trump Signs Travel Ban Affecting Twelve Countries

    WASHINGTON: On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump reintroduced a travel ban impacting nationals from twelve countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Yemen, marking a revival of one of the most contentious policies from his initial term.

    The decision followed a disturbing incident in Colorado, where a makeshift flamethrower was used during a protest supporting Jewish individuals. U.S. officials traced the attack back to an individual who was allegedly in the country without legal status.

    Under the new guidelines, individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen face a complete travel ban into the United States. Additionally, a partial ban applies to travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, although some temporary work visas from these nations may still be granted.

    The White House confirmed that the restrictions will take effect on Monday. "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has highlighted the significant risks associated with allowing improperly vetted foreign nationals to enter our country," Trump stated in a video message from the Oval Office shared on X. "We don’t want them here."

    Athletes Exempt from Restrictions

    Notably, the ban will not apply to athletes participating in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, nor to those competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to Trump’s order.

    In a separate announcement, Trump also imposed restrictions on visas for foreign students intending to enroll at Harvard University, intensifying his efforts against what he perceives as a strongly liberal institution.

    He likened the revised travel ban to the significant restrictions he imposed during his first term, which disrupted travel worldwide. Trump claimed that the previous measures had prevented terror attacks similar to those experienced in Europe. "We will not allow what occurred in Europe to take place in America," he said. "We cannot have unrestricted migration from countries where safe and reliable vetting is not possible."

    Venezuela responded by asserting that the U.S. is not a safe destination. Diosdado Cabello, the Venezuelan Interior Minister, warned his fellow citizens against traveling to the United States, stating, "It presents a significant risk for anyone, not just Venezuelans."

    However, Trump’s latest travel ban is likely to face legal challenges, consistent with many of the sweeping actions he has taken since returning to office.

    Details of the Travel Ban

    The White House announced the ban shortly after Trump had addressed about 3,000 political appointees from a balcony at a "summer soiree." The announcement was made without any reporters present, a departure from Trump’s customary practice of revealing policy shifts during Oval Office signing ceremonies.

    After the Colorado attack, speculations regarding a new travel ban circulated, with Trump’s administration pledging to pursue "terrorists" in the U.S. on visas. The suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, is accused of throwing incendiary devices at a gathering advocating for Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

    U.S. Homeland Security officials reported that Soliman was in the country illegally after overstaying a tourist visa, despite having applied for asylum in September 2022. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson remarked on X that "President Trump is honoring his commitment to shield Americans from harmful foreign actors seeking to enter our country."

    The travel ban was based on specific risks posed by each listed country, highlighting the goal of protecting the U.S. from "foreign terrorists and other national security threats." Notably, Egypt was left off the travel restrictions list.

    For nations like Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and conflict-ridden Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, the proclamation pointed out their lack of "competent" authorities for passport processing and vetting. Meanwhile, Iran, noted as a "state sponsor of terrorism" amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with the U.S., was included in the list.

    Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, criticized the ban, saying, "Once again, families will be separated, missing weddings, funerals, and the births of their children," adding that individuals from many other countries might also face challenges with visa overstays.

    This version is tailored while maintaining the key information and provides a fresh perspective on the original content!

  • US State Dept Denies Existence of Travel Ban List Reports

    US State Dept Denies Existence of Travel Ban List Reports

    US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a press briefing in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2025. — Screengrab via YouTube@StateDept

    • “There is no travel ban list,” stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
    • She confirmed that the administration aims to ensure the safety of the U.S. when it comes to issuing visas.
    • Reports suggest that Washington has drafted a list comprising 41 countries.

    WASHINGTON: Amid widespread speculation regarding potential travel restrictions from President Donald Trump’s administration, the U.S. State Department has confirmed that there is no existing travel ban list.

    “There is no list. What people have been discussing over the past several days is not something that exists here that we are acting upon,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated during a media briefing when asked about Afghanistan’s status on the alleged travel ban list.

    This denial follows the emergence of a draft list containing the names of 41 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and others, categorized into three groups that would face different levels of travel restrictions.

    According to a memo obtained by Reuters, Pakistan was placed in a category that would be considered for a partial suspension of visa issuance if its government fails to “address deficiencies within 60 days.”

    The first group consists of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, which would encounter a full visa suspension.

    The second group includes five nations—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—that would experience partial visa suspensions affecting tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, though some exceptions would apply.

    The third group comprises 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, which could face partial visa suspensions if their governments do not resolve relevant issues in a timely manner.

    A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, warned that changes to the list might occur and that it had yet to receive approval from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

    This proposed policy reflects the travel ban during Trump’s first term, which targeted travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. This policy underwent several modifications before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

    On January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating enhanced security vetting for foreigners seeking entry into the U.S. to identify potential national security threats.

    Addressing the reports about the potential travel restrictions, State Department spokesperson Bruce explained that there is an ongoing review under Trump’s executive order aimed at determining what measures could make America safer in terms of visa policies and admissions.

    “However, what has been presented as an item by the State Department is simply not accurate,” she further emphasized.