Trump’s Expanded Travel Ban Takes Effect, Targeting 12 Countries

A new U.S. travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries, predominantly in Africa and the Middle East, took effect on Monday, marking the latest escalation in President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

The restrictions apply to nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial entry limitations also affect citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who lack valid visas.

Unlike Trump’s 2017 travel ban—which sparked chaos at airports and protracted legal challenges—this iteration has so far been implemented without visible disruption. Legal experts suggest the updated policy, which focuses on visa vetting rather than outright entry denials, is more likely to survive court scrutiny.

Mixed Reactions and Legal Concerns

The announcement was overshadowed by ongoing immigration disputes, including protests in Los Angeles against deportation raids, which prompted Trump to deploy the National Guard despite objections from California’s governor.

Advocacy groups swiftly condemned the ban. “This policy is not about national security—it’s about sowing division and vilifying communities seeking safety and opportunity,” said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America.

The restrictions notably include Haiti and Venezuela, countries already facing heightened U.S. pressure. Haitians, in particular, were singled out during Trump’s campaign, when he claimed Haitian immigrants were “eating pets.” The ban also disproportionately affects African nations, raising concerns about exclusion from education and professional opportunities.

While the policy exempts existing visa holders, new applicants must meet narrow criteria to avoid rejection. Trump justified the measures by citing “deficient” document screening in some countries and risks of visa overstays, though critics note the alleged perpetrator of a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado—cited by Trump—was from Egypt, a non-listed country.

The ban includes exceptions for Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas, typically granted to wartime U.S. collaborators. Yet its broader impact remains contentious, with opponents decrying it as racially motivated.

“This reinforces a pattern of exclusion,” said political analyst Mikhail Nyamweya, warning it could institutionalize perceptions of Africans as “outsiders in the global order.”