President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday evening to impose a travel ban on nationals from 12 countries, citing security concerns.
The big picture: The ban, taking effect on June 9 at 12:01 a.m., fully restricts entry for individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
- Partial restrictions will apply to nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
- The proclamation includes exemptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests.
Driving the news: Following an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, President Trump took the decision to sign the proclamation, according to a White House official. Notably, the suspect in the Boulder attack was an Egyptian national, even though Egypt was not among the countries listed in the ban.
- White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson emphasized that the restrictions are country-specific, targeting nations with insufficient vetting practices, high visa overstay rates, or inadequate sharing of identity and threat information. The president maintained that additional countries could be included in the travel ban as new threats emerge globally.
