In response to a recent attack in Colorado targeting a pro-Israel group, US President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation imposing travel restrictions on 12 countries, citing national security concerns. The order, announced Wednesday, imposes a full entry ban on nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The announcement follows Sunday’s incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian man allegedly set fire to a group of peaceful demonstrators advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Trump referenced the attack in his proclamation and a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as a stark reminder of the risks posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” Trump said. “That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.”
In addition to the full bans, the proclamation includes partial restrictions on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These measures will limit access to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas—such as B-1, B-2, F, M, and J—due to high visa overstay rates or insufficient cooperation with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
The travel ban is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 9. According to a White House statement, the affected countries were identified as failing to meet security and information-sharing standards required for safe entry into the United States.
The move echoes Trump’s controversial travel ban enacted during his first term, which initially targeted seven Muslim-majority countries. Critics had challenged that policy as discriminatory, though the Supreme Court later upheld a revised version.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson reaffirmed the administration’s stance on social media, stating, “President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm.”
“You are cooked”
The Internet swiftly reacted to the announcement with a few panicking over their travel plans. A user wrote on Reddit, “My country is currently on the full travel ban list. I obtained my F1 visa two months ago for Fall 2025 Semester. I am intending to leave in July. Does the travel ban include people like me, or do I still have a chance to get into the US? Thank you!.” A user commented on the post, “Leave before June 9 if you can.” Another added, “You are fine. There will not be new visas though.” A netizen claimed, “I think the exemption is if you have a valid visa in your passport before June 09, you are good to go.” “I think it’s better to contact embassy instead of taking others advise because speculation won’t help you,” noted a user. “You need to talk to a very good immigration lawyer who can help you navigate this. Please don’t take advice about something so important from Reddit,” warned another. “Talk to the university immediately. They may have a trick or two up their sleeve. For example they may get you started right away with a research assignment or something – before the ban takes effect,” advised a user.