President Trump approved a travel restriction order on Wednesday affecting 12 countries, with most of them located in Africa and the Middle East.
This move brings back a version of his earlier effort to reduce the number of foreign nationals entering the United States.
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Starting from Monday, the new policy will stop people from nations like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from traveling to the United States.
Partial Restrictions on Other Countries
Instead of a complete restriction, Mr. Trump applied limited travel rules to countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. People from these places will not be able to get permanent residency or apply for student or tourist visas in the U.S.
This updated measure mirrors a similar one from Mr. Trump’s first term, which caused confusion at airports and led to multiple court battles.
It also adds to his administration’s broader campaign to reduce immigration, which already includes denying asylum claims at the southern border and canceling visa permits for international students at top universities like Harvard.
The decision came shortly after an Egyptian man in Colorado was arrested for an attack during a vigil for hostages in Gaza. Officials in Mr. Trump’s administration had already indicated that tighter measures would follow that incident.
Security Justifications and Targeted Messaging
Mr. Trump addressed the matter in a recorded message. He pointed to the Colorado attack as proof that America faces threats from visitors who enter without proper background checks or who fail to leave after their visas expire. “We do not want such people here,” he said firmly.
Although Egypt was connected to the recent attack, it was not part of the countries listed under the new ban. The new rules will now apply to people from more than twelve different countries. There are also reports that the administration is considering adding others to the list.
Legal experts believe that this latest version of the ban could face fewer obstacles in court compared to Mr. Trump’s first attempts during his earlier term.
Legal Background and Precedents
Stephen Vladeck, a law professor from Georgetown University, explained that the process followed this time has been more detailed.
He said the inclusion of more countries and analysis by the Secretary of State gives the ban a stronger legal base. However, he added that the way the rule is enforced will be a major factor in whether courts uphold it.
George Fishman, a former attorney in the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s first term, argued that lower courts should respect Supreme Court decisions on similar cases. He said if lower courts block the policy, they will likely be overturned.
