WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s new travel ban barring citizens from 12 countries will come into effect at 12:01am ET (0401 GMT) on Monday, the White House announced.
The order blocks entry into the United States for nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition, people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial travel restrictions under the same order.
Trump, a Republican, stated the move aims to shield Americans from what he called “foreign terrorists.” He cited what he claimed is poor security cooperation, failure to track criminal records, identity verification issues, and high visa overstay rates in these countries.
“These countries have a large-scale presence of terrorists and do not meet the standards we require for entry,” Trump said in a press statement. He pointed to the recent gasoline bomb attack in Colorado — allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national — as an example of the threat. However, Egypt is not included in the travel ban.
Global Backlash and Local Fallout
The decision triggered strong reactions from both foreign leaders and rights advocates. Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno condemned the ban and said his government will stop issuing visas to US citizens in response.
“Chad has neither planes to offer nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and its pride,” he wrote in a Facebook post, in a pointed reference to countries like Qatar, which had previously gifted a luxury plane to the US and pledged large investments.
Meanwhile, Afghan citizens who had worked for the US government or American-funded projects expressed deep concern. Many fear the ban will force them to return to Afghanistan, where they risk Taliban retaliation.
“We helped the US, and now we are left stranded,” said one former contractor. “This ban could cost us our lives.”
Political Opposition and Human Rights Alarm
Trump’s latest action has reignited a political debate over immigration and executive power. Democratic lawmakers slammed the policy, calling it unconstitutional and discriminatory.
“Trump’s travel ban on citizens from over 12 countries is draconian and unconstitutional,” said US Representative Ro Khanna on social media. “People have a right to seek asylum.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and several immigration advocacy groups are also preparing to challenge the ban in court, similar to how they fought Trump’s 2017 Muslim-majority travel ban.
Legal experts warn the order could violate international asylum laws and severely restrict access to safe haven for vulnerable populations.
“This blanket ban punishes entire nations instead of focusing on actual security threats,” said one immigration rights attorney.
As the ban goes into effect, travel plans for thousands remain in limbo, and tensions continue to grow between the United States and several of the affected nations.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram