Trump signs travel ban targeting 20 countries citing terrorism, security risks, and visa abuse

President Donald Trump has signed a Proclamation under Executive Order 14161, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” The order imposes full or partial travel restrictions on nationals from 19 countries identified as posing elevated risks due to terrorism, poor screening systems, high visa overstay rates, or lack of cooperation with US immigration authorities.

Citing the President’s duty to protect the American people, the Proclamation enacts full entry bans on citizens from 12 countries, and partial restrictions on nationals from an additional 7.

Countries with full entry ban:

Afghanistan – Controlled by the Taliban; 29.3% student visa overstay rate.

Burma (Myanmar) – 42.17% overstay rate among F, M, J visa holders; non-cooperative on deportations.

Chad – Alarmingly high overstay rates: 49.54% (B1/B2) and 55.64% (F/M/J).

Republic of the Congo – 35.14% F/M/J visa overstay rate.

Equatorial Guinea – 70.18% overstay rate among students and exchange visitors.

Eritrea – Fails to share criminal records; refuses to repatriate its nationals.

Haiti – Ongoing illegal migration and national security concerns; lacks law enforcement coordination.

Iran – State sponsor of terrorism; refuses to cooperate with US security protocols.

Libya – Lacks centralized authority and has active terrorist presence.

Somalia – Terrorist safe haven; no effective government control or vetting capacity.

Sudan – Inadequate civil documentation systems; 28.4% student visa overstay rate.

Yemen – Active war zone with no functioning government; site of US military operations.

 Countries with partial entry ban (Certain visa types):

These restrictions affect travelers applying for B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas.

Burundi – Overstay rates exceed 15% in both tourist and student categories.

Cuba – Designated as a state sponsor of terrorism; refuses to repatriate nationals.

Laos – High B1/B2 overstay rate (34.77%) and limited deportation cooperation.

Sierra Leone – Over 35% student visa overstay rate.

Togo – Overstay rates above 19% for B1/B2 and 35% for student-type visas.

Turkmenistan – Student visa overstay rate exceeds 21%.

Venezuela – Crippled by internal instability; no reliable vetting or document issuance systems.

“The restrictions are country-specific in order to encourage cooperation... and reflect each country’s unique circumstances,” the Proclamation states.

The Proclamation also includes exemptions for lawful permanent residents, valid visa holders, certain humanitarian cases, and individuals whose entry serves vital US interests.

This action follows legal precedent set by the Supreme Court, which upheld President Trump’s earlier travel bans, noting that such restrictions fall within his legal authority to protect national security.

The US Department of State maintains Level 4: Do Not Travel advisories for many of the countries affected by the Proclamation, citing extreme security threats, civil unrest, or lack of US consular presence.