Trump bans nationals from 12 countries after Colorado attack, citing national security threats.
Trump bans entry from 12 nations after Colorado attack, citing national
security risks.
Washington, D.C., USA — President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new
travel ban prohibiting nationals from 12 countries from entering the United
States, citing security concerns after a recent terror attack in Colorado. The
ban will take effect on June 9 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
The executive order, announced just days after the Boulder, Colorado
attack, is a dramatic escalation in Trump’s ongoing effort to reshape U.S. immigration
and national security policy. Authorities say the attacker, who killed seven
people at a shopping plaza, had overstayed a temporary visa and was not a U.S.
citizen.
The White House said the new restrictions target “countries that present
heightened risks of terrorism, poor vetting infrastructure, or harbor
anti-American extremism.” The full ban applies to nationals of Afghanistan,
Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran,
Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
A partial travel restriction was also imposed on seven additional
nations — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela
— with limits on certain visa categories and increased vetting.
In a video message from the Oval Office posted to X (formerly Twitter),
Trump said: “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the
extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are
not properly vetted. We don’t want ’em.”
The policy closely mirrors Trump’s controversial 2017 travel ban, which
targeted several majority-Muslim countries and sparked legal challenges. That
earlier ban was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 before being
repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Now reinstated with broader scope, the June 2025 ban is already drawing
fierce political and legal scrutiny. Civil rights organizations such as the
ACLU and the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the move as
discriminatory and ineffective. “This is a blanket ban rooted in fear, not
fact,” said Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU. “It repeats the
worst mistakes of Trump’s first term.”
Supporters argue the ban is a necessary measure. Homeland Security
officials noted that six of the 12 banned nations do not comply with U.S.
identity-sharing or criminal background reporting standards. A senior DHS
official said, “These are countries where reliable vetting is impossible. The
president has acted decisively to protect American lives.”
The political backdrop is also crucial. With Trump actively campaigning
for re-election in 2026, the move reinforces his image as a hardliner on
immigration. His allies praised the executive order as “bold and overdue.”
Critics, however, argue it’s a calculated appeal to nationalist voters.
Immigration experts say the ban could have widespread consequences.
Thousands of visa applicants may be affected, including those seeking family
reunification, employment, or refugee status. The U.S. State Department is
expected to publish further guidance in the coming days.
While the executive order claims to be temporary, no expiration date has
been set. The administration says the restrictions will be reviewed every 180
days.
Historically, travel bans based on nationality have faced both political
and constitutional challenges. Legal analysts anticipate immediate lawsuits,
especially if the measure is interpreted as discriminatory under the equal
protection clause.
The international reaction is also unfolding. Iran and Somalia have
condemned the move as “hostile and unjustified,” while Libya and Sudan summoned
U.S. diplomats for explanations.
Some human rights observers fear the ban may intensify anti-American
sentiment in affected countries and fuel global tensions.
For now, Trump appears resolute. “We’re not going to wait for another
attack,” he declared in his message. “America is back in charge of its
borders.”
As the June 9 enforcement date approaches, all eyes are on how courts,
Congress, and the international community will respond — and what it signals
for the future of American immigration policy.
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