Trump Blocks 12 Countries from Entering the United States

Trump has just announced that starting from July 9th, 2025, 12 countries, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will be blocked from traveling into the United States. Nationals from another seven countries, too, will face a partial ban. Trump claims that its purpose is to protect the national security and the natural interest of the United States and its people.

There will be some cases where the travel ban does not apply. For example, athletes who are traveling to the U.S. to compete in sports events are allowed to cross the border line. This case applies to several major sporting tournaments that are going to be held in the U.S. over the next few years, such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Unlike Trump’s first travel ban in 2017, which targeted citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and was criticized as an unconstitutional “Muslim ban,” this new ban is broader. The address of the new travel ban was greeted with less protests and disapproval than in 2017.

However, some people and organizations have criticized Trump’s 2025 ban, and it is expected to be challenged in court. Human rights groups have also spoken out against the ban. Furthermore, Amnesty International USA described it as “discriminatory, racist, and downright cruel.”

Trump’s new travel ban blocking twelve countries and partially blocking seven other countries from traveling to the United States is likely to significantly impact immigration- except in cases involving dual citizens or athletes traveling for competition.

Citations:

“Trump Travel Ban barring Citizens from 12 Countries Goes into Effect.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 June 2025, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/09/trump-travel-ban.

“Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” The White House, The United States Government, 4 June 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats/.