Trump Travel Ban Targeting 12 Nations Takes effect Monday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump’s new travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries takes effect, triggering backlash from immigrant advocates. The ban affects nations mainly in Africa and the Middle East, citing national security concerns and visa overstay rates. Critics say the move revives discriminatory policies under the guise of enforcement.
Trump Travel Ban Begins: Quick Looks
- Trump’s new travel restrictions target 12 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East.
- Affected nations include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Haiti.
- Visa overstay rates and “deficient screening” cited as justification for the ban.
- Travelers with valid visas may still enter the U.S., but new applicants face rejection.
- The order also imposes restrictions on travelers from six additional countries.
- The ban drew criticism from humanitarian organizations and immigration advocates.
- No major disruptions reported at LAX or other major airports after the policy took effect.
- Trump linked the policy to national security, referencing a visa overstay incident in Colorado.
- Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas are exempt, though refugee support groups remain alarmed.
Deep Look: Trump’s Travel Ban Takes Effect as Immigration Tensions Mount Nationwide
WASHINGTON — A new travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump took effect Monday, restricting entry to the United States from 12 countries, largely in Africa and the Middle East, amid heightened political tension over the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.
Signed last week, the presidential proclamation bars or limits entry to citizens of countries including Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia, Iran, Libya, and Yemen. It also tightens restrictions on travelers from several other nations, including Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, and Venezuela, who lack valid U.S. visas.
The restrictions come as Trump intensifies his second-term immigration push — deploying National Guard troops to major cities, escalating deportations, and proposing deep cuts to refugee resettlement programs.
“This policy is not about national security — it is about sowing division,” said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, condemning the ban.
What’s in the Ban?
The new travel restrictions, unlike Trump’s earlier executive orders, do not revoke previously issued visas. However, they prohibit new visa approvals for citizens of the listed countries unless the applicant meets narrowly defined exemption criteria.
According to guidance sent to U.S. embassies, anyone applying from a banned country without a valid visa will likely be denied entry.
- Banned countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo (Republic), Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen
- Restricted countries (selective visa denial): Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela
The proclamation cites “deficient screening” practices and high visa overstay rates in these countries, citing data from the Department of Homeland Security.
“Some nations simply don’t verify passports or cooperate with U.S. law enforcement,” the president stated.
Comparing to Past Bans
Trump’s first travel ban in 2017, which affected mostly Muslim-majority countries, caused chaos at airports and faced multiple legal challenges. This time, the administration has carefully tailored the language to focus on visa protocols, aiming to avoid court intervention.
Early reports from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and other travel hubs indicated no immediate disruptions, a stark contrast to the widespread confusion seen during the 2017 order.
Still, critics argue that the policy is rooted in the same exclusionary principles.
“People fleeing violence in Haiti and Afghanistan aren’t security threats — they’re seeking safety,” said Elvanise Louis-Juste, a Haitian-American traveler interviewed in Newark.
Security Justifications Questioned
Trump tied the policy to recent security concerns, including a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national who overstayed his tourist visa. Egypt, however, is not on the new banned list, raising questions about the criteria.
“The threat is real and persistent,” Trump said, defending the new policy as “proactive.”
Meanwhile, experts have long warned that overstay metrics are flawed and that visa compliance is difficult to track accurately.
Afghan Allies Impacted
The ban’s inclusion of Afghanistan has triggered particular backlash from veterans’ groups and refugee advocates. The country, once a major source of refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, now faces blanket visa rejections — with exceptions for SIV applicants who aided U.S. forces.
Still, many fear that vulnerable Afghans not covered by SIV programs will be denied urgently needed protection.
“Afghanistan’s inclusion feels like betrayal,” said a resettlement worker in Virginia. “Many of these people risked everything to help the U.S.”
Legal and Political Fallout
Immigration advocates are already preparing legal challenges to the new travel ban, while Democrats and civil liberties groups warn it could spark more unrest in communities already protesting Trump’s enforcement measures.
Humanitarian organizations are also concerned that the tightened rules will choke off refugee pipelines, especially from nations like Somalia and Yemen, where U.S. involvement has contributed to long-standing instability.
Trump has not commented on the possibility of further travel bans but has hinted at more executive actions targeting “countries that refuse to play by the rules.”
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