Washington [US], June 10 (HBTV): President Donald Trump's new travel ban targeting 12 countries—mainly from Africa and the Middle East—came into effect on Monday, escalating tensions over the administration's expanded immigration crackdown, CNN reported.
According to the report, the new order affects citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It also imposes restrictions on individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are outside the United States and do not hold valid visas.
While the proclamation does not revoke existing visas, it blocks new applications unless individuals meet specific exemption criteria. CNN noted that ‘travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the US’, citing official guidance issued to American diplomatic missions. The new restrictions are designed to avoid the legal chaos and airport confusion that followed Trump’s initial travel ban during his first term.
This time, the administration has emphasized a legally refined approach by focusing on visa procedures rather than outright entry bans, which is seen as an attempt to prevent legal challenges that previously stalled similar policies.
Trump defended the decision citing national security concerns, arguing that certain countries had poor screening mechanisms or failed to cooperate with US deportation processes. He also referred to visa overstay rates cited in a Homeland Security report, though experts have raised concerns about the consistency and accuracy of such data. Notably, Trump linked the new restrictions to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national—a country not listed in the ban.
Rights groups and immigration advocates strongly criticised the order. Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, said: ‘This policy is not about national security—it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States.’
CNN reported that the inclusion of Afghanistan has drawn significant criticism, particularly from those involved in Afghan resettlement. While exemptions exist for Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas—typically granted to those who supported the US military—critics argue the broader ban undermines refugee protections. Afghanistan had been a major source of US-bound refugees, with nearly 14,000 arriving in the 12-month period ending September 2024.
Trump had previously suspended refugee admissions on his first day in office, a decision that is now being echoed in this latest expansion of immigration restrictions. (ANI)