U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order reinstating and expanding a travel ban affecting 19 countries, reviving a key policy from his first term. The order bans entry from 12 countries and imposes restrictions on seven more, citing national security concerns.
The countries subject to the full ban include Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela face limited restrictions. The move comes after a recent terror attack at a pro-Israel rally in Colorado by an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa. Although Egypt is not on the banned list, Trump emphasized the need for tighter controls to prevent similar incidents.
The African Union and several affected countries condemned the policy, warning it would damage diplomatic and educational ties. Human rights groups called the policy divisive and damaging to vulnerable communities seeking safety in the U.S.
The decision follows the Trump administration’s recent crackdown on foreign students at Harvard University, accusing the university of foreign ties and radicalism.
