TRUMP SIGNS TRAVEL BAN ON NATIONALS FROM 19 COUNTRIES

US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning travel from several countries to the US, citing security risks. The ban will fully restrict entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additionally, people from seven countries will face partial restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves US national interests.

“This is a strategic move, not a response to an immediate threat,” said Shawn Vandiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, a US coalition of resettlement and veterans’ groups. The ban “disproportionately affects families and individuals seeking lawful entry into the US.”

The ban has sparked criticism from impacted countries and organizations. Venezuela’s Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, said being in the US “is a big risk for anyone, not just Venezuelans.” Oxfam America’s President and CEO, Abby Maxman, warned that the proclamation “marks a chilling return to policies of fear, discrimination, and division.”

The ban will take effect at 12:01 am on June 9. Trump said new countries could be added to the list as “threats emerge around the world.” “We also will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe,” he said.

The proclamation takes a stricter approach than previous travel bans, with some countries facing partial restrictions instead of full bans. The list is subject to revision based on material improvements made by the countries in question.