President Trump has reinstated a travel ban for 19 countries, expanding his previously repealed ban from his first term. When the first travel ban came into fruition, it was scrutinized by the Supreme Court, but ultimately passed. It was then repealed under President Biden. As the present administration continues to crack down on immigration, Trump has reinstated this ban with an expansion into more African and Middle Eastern countries. In an echo of his first travel ban from 2017, the banned countries are once again predominantly Muslim majority. This trend shows consistent stereotyping by the Trump administration, despite the administration’s efforts to label the ban as necessary to protect against “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.
The new proclamation, which was signed by Trump last week and went into effect Monday, “fully” restricts the nationals of the 12 countries listed from entering the United States. These 12 countries are:
Afghanistan
Myanmar
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen
The 7 countries, which are partially restricted, are:
Burundi
Cuba
Laos
Sierra Leone
Togo
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Impacts on Immigration
Visas which were previously issued to people from countries on the list will not be revoked, according to guidance issued to all US diplomatic missions. However, unless an applicant meets narrow criteria for an exemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected. Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the U.S. after the ban takes effect.
The ban specifically targets the visa application process, which includes applications currently in progress in the now-banned countries. It also says, if an individual whose application was approved did not receive their visa, they will be denied entry to the United States. Applicants from any of the banned countries will now be rejected unless approved for an exemption.
Arab States Affected
Libya
Listed as “fully” restricted is Libya for its “historic terrorist presence,” which, according to the White House, poses a security threat. It also accused Libya of failing to issue passports and civil documents to its citizens. Libya’s history of authoritarian rule and civil conflict has also prompted a mass migration challenge.
Somalia
The White House describes Somalia as a “terrorist safe haven” led by a dysfunctional government that “lacks command and control of its territory”. The al-Shabaab insurgency group has unleashed havoc on the country. The country also faces severe food insecurity, with hunger levels that are considered alarming.
Sudan
Currently enduring one of the bloodiest wars in the world, Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with over 30 million people in need of aid. Millions of Sudanese have been displaced into neighboring countries. The United States has attempted to broker a ceasefire numerous times since the war’s 2023 onset, with no success.
Yemen
In his proclamation, Trump noted that Yemen has been the site of “active United States military operations”, after Washington carried out strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels this year. The country continues to be in a decade-long civil war, leaving more than 21 million people in need of aid.
Those not affected
Some groups of people will be exempted from the ban, such as dual nationals, lawful permanent residents, and their immediate family, and certain other statuses.
This includes dual nationals who are traveling with a passport from a non-banned country, children adopted by U.S. citizens, immediate family immigrant visas with an evidence of identity and family relationship.
Why these nations?
In a video posted on Wednesday, Trump said nationals of countries included in the ban pose “terrorism-related” and “public-safety” risks. He further defines their ‘risk’ as the probability that they will overstay their visas. He also said some of these countries had “deficient” screening and vetting or have historically refused to take back their citizens.
Trump tied the new ban to a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, which left a dozen people wounded. The perpetrator had overstayed their tourist visa, which Trump cited as a major motivator for the travel ban. The man charged in the attack is an Egyptian national, yet Egypt is not listed as a restricted country under Trump’s travel ban. Thus, leaving many commentators of the ban questioning the ‘security’ behind it.
Travel Ban Controversy
Though five of the countries on the new ban list are not majority-Muslim, including the Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Eritrea, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as Haiti, the list does target citizens of non-white countries in the developing world, fueling criticism that the ban is fundamentally racist. The bans on these countries have incited scrutiny from governmental and foreign officials.
As many international organizations voice their concern, some American politicians are finding the ban to be a result of racism and xenophobia.
“This cruel travel ban will separate families, contribute to the ongoing dehumanization of our communities, and put lives in danger. It targets the very same people fleeing the violence of U.S. bombs, sanctions, and interventions in countries like Yeme, Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Libya, and Iran, and prevents Americans from seeing their loved ones”.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)
These restrictions are expected to exclude countries from opportunities for education, professional development, and networking.
Data Behind the Travel Ban
To further navigate this policy, a study done by the NPR compares the number of visiting visas that have been overstayed in European and MENA countries. As previously stated, this was a major concern for the Trump administration when issuing the travel ban. When looking at the report from the Department of Homeland Security, the United States already scarcely approves visas to the MENA region. Additionally, the nationals who have overstayed their visas at high rates are not from the MENA region.
Source: Department of Homeland Security Entry/Exit Overstay Report. Please note that the dark blue represents European nationals who have overstayed their visas, while the red represents MENA nationals who have overstayed their visas. The grey represents the total number of visas issued.
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