Citing Security Threats, Trump Imposes New Travel Ban on 12 Countries

Washington, D.C. — In the wake of a violent attack in Colorado, former President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new travel ban targeting nationals from 12 countries, citing national security concerns. The executive order, announced Wednesday, is reminiscent of the controversial travel restrictions enacted during his first term.

According to the White House, the ban will go into effect on June 9 and applies to travelers from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

In addition, a partial ban will be imposed on seven other countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — restricting certain categories of travelers.

Speaking from the Oval Office in a video message posted to X (formerly Twitter), Trump said the decision was prompted by the recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, which left several people injured. The attack occurred during a protest supporting Israeli hostages, and authorities have charged Mohammed Sabry Soliman, who is alleged to have thrown fire bombs and sprayed burning gasoline at the crowd.

“The recent terror attack in Boulder underscores the extreme dangers posed by foreign nationals who enter our country without proper vetting,” Trump stated. “We cannot and will not allow open migration from countries where we cannot safely and reliably screen individuals.”

Homeland Security officials confirmed that Soliman, an Egyptian national, had overstayed a tourist visa and had applied for asylum in September 2022. Trump’s administration said the incident was a stark reminder of the risks associated with lax immigration enforcement.

“We don’t want them,” Trump said, drawing comparisons to his earlier travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, which he credited with preventing attacks similar to those seen in Europe.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson defended the new restrictions, describing them as “commonsense measures” targeting nations that fail to share threat intelligence, have high visa overstay rates, or lack reliable identity verification systems.

“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors who intend to cause harm,” Jackson said on X.

While critics are expected to challenge the order, Trump’s supporters hailed it as a strong stance on national security amid rising concerns over domestic terrorism and immigration control.

Team Maverick.