President Donald Trump’s new travel ban, which bars citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, took effect at midnight ET on Monday.
The executive order, signed last week, restricts nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the US. Citizens from seven additional countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — face partial travel restrictions.
Trump stated that the list could be revised if “material improvements” are made, and other countries may be added as new “threats emerge around the world.” This is the second travel ban issued by Trump, who signed a similar order in 2017 during his first term.
The White House described these “common sense restrictions” as necessary to “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.”
Several exceptions apply, allowing some individuals from the affected countries to enter the US. Exemptions include:
Lawful permanent US residents
Immediate family members holding immigrant visas
US government employees with Special Immigrant Visas
Adoptions
Dual nationals not traveling on passports from affected countries
Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas
Holders of immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Foreign nationals traveling on certain non-immigrant visas
Athletes, teams, and immediate family members traveling for major sporting events like the 2026 men’s football World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles The US Secretary of State may also grant exemptions on a case-by-case basis if it serves US national interests.
Trump cited a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, as highlighting the “extreme dangers” posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals. The June 1 incident injured twelve people when a man attacked a group supporting Israeli hostages using incendiary devices. The suspect, identified as an Egyptian national, is from a country not included on the banned list.
