Trump Signs Sweeping Travel Ban Targeting 12 Nations

President Donald Trump of the United States of America has signed a comprehensive travel ban affecting nationals from 12 countries, reviving and expanding a policy that drew global scrutiny during his first term.

The executive order, signed earlier today, fully bars entry into the United States for individuals from the following nations: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Equatorial Guinea.

In addition to the full bans, partial restrictions have been placed on travelers from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Togo. These restrictions vary by visa type and individual vetting criteria.

Trump defended the move in a press briefing, citing national security concerns and what he called “the urgent need to protect American sovereignty and borders.”

This development marks one of the most sweeping immigration actions since Trump’s return to political prominence and signals a renewed focus on hardline immigration policy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.