The Trump immigration ban will block citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, under a new policy announced by his administration.
According to a document released on Wednesday by the White House, the move is intended to “protect” the US from “foreign terrorists”. The ban will take effect on Monday, 9 June.
The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition to the ban, strict new entry restrictions will apply to citizens of seven more countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The Trump immigration ban has already drawn criticism from international observers and civil rights organisations, who say it discriminates against vulnerable populations. They argue that the move undermines the US’s reputation as a haven for people fleeing conflict and persecution.
The list largely includes nations with unstable governments, ongoing violence, or strained ties with the United States. Critics suggest the ban is politically motivated and unlikely to meaningfully improve security. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), for example, has condemned similar policies in the past, warning they can cause long-term harm to diplomatic relations and global cooperation.
More on the ACLU’s stance here
While the Trump administration claims the ban is based on risk assessments, it has not released detailed evidence showing the security threat posed by all affected countries. Some legal experts have also warned that such broad restrictions could face challenges in court.
The Trump immigration ban echoes a similar policy from 2017, which faced widespread protests and was partially struck down by US courts before being revised.
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