Trump Reinstates Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Cites Terror Threat After Colorado Attack

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new presidential proclamation reinstating and expanding a travel ban on foreign nationals from a dozen countries, citing national security threats and visa overstay risks.

The order, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 9, fully suspends entry for citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Yemen, and partially restricts travelers from seven others, including Venezuela and Cuba.

The move comes just days after a violent attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national allegedly hurled firebombs and sprayed gasoline at pro-Israel demonstrators, injuring 15. Authorities say the suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, was in the U.S. illegally after overstaying a tourist visa.

“The recent terror attack in Boulder has underscored the extreme dangers posed by foreign nationals who are not properly vetted,” Trump said in a video address. “We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably screen people. We will not let what happened in Europe happen in America.”

The proclamation mirrors the controversial 2017 “travel ban” implemented during Trump’s first term, which targeted several majority-Muslim nations and was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The newly issued ban draws from an April 9 report by national security agencies identifying countries with insufficient identity-management systems, terrorism ties, or high visa overstay rates.

Countries under a full suspension include:
Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Countries under partial restrictions include:
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

While Egypt is not included on the banned list, Trump ordered an immediate review of Egypt’s screening procedures “in light of recent events.”

The proclamation noted alarming statistics from the FY2023 Department of Homeland Security Overstay Report: Equatorial Guinea had a 70% visa overstay rate, while Afghanistan’s student visa overstay rate topped 29%. Chad saw the highest business/tourist visa overstay rate at 49.5%.

National Security and Legal Exceptions

The order emphasizes that no visas issued prior to June 9 will be revoked and that lawful permanent residents, asylum seekers, and individuals covered under the Convention Against Torture will not be affected. Those whose entry is deemed in the national interest may also qualify for waivers.

“It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and other public-safety threats,” Trump stated in the proclamation. “These restrictions are necessary to prevent entry from nations about which we lack sufficient information to assess the risks they pose.”

According to Jewish Insider and JNS, senior Trump administration officials briefed Jewish faith leaders at the White House ahead of the announcement. Attendees included Orthodox Union Advocacy Center’s Nathan Diament and Israel Allies Foundation President Josh Reinstein. The meeting highlighted growing concerns over antisemitic violence in the U.S., including the Colorado attack and recent murders outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Participants described the meeting as focused and urgent, with senior officials from the White House, Justice Department, and National Security Council pledging a robust, cross-agency response to antisemitism and terrorism.

The Trump administration is expected to release additional announcements in the coming days regarding further security initiatives, visa policy enforcement, and international cooperation. The White House fact sheet accompanying the proclamation emphasized that the United States remains open to working with countries that improve their screening standards.

“The world is a dangerous place,” Trump concluded. “But we will not sacrifice the safety of the American people on the altar of political correctness. This is about survival, and we will always put America first.”

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