On June 4, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reinstating and expanding a travel ban targeting nationals from 12 countries, following a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado. The ban, set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. local time on Monday, June 9, 2025, fully restricts entry from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Partial travel restrictions have also been imposed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The move was prompted by an attack in Boulder, Colorado, where a pro-Israel march was targeted. The suspect, an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa, allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and an incendiary device during the assault. President Trump attributed the incident to lax immigration policies under the previous administration and emphasized the need for stringent vetting processes.
Exemptions to the ban include individuals holding valid U.S. visas, lawful permanent residents, and delegations attending international events such as the World Cup or the Olympics. Additionally, those granted special visas for aiding U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan or fleeing persecution in Iran are also exempted.
This policy marks a continuation of President Trump's immigration agenda from his first term, where similar travel restrictions were imposed. Critics have raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of the ban, particularly on individuals from conflict-ridden countries. Legal challenges to the proclamation are anticipated, as was the case with the original travel ban in 2017.
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