President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping order blocking travel to the U.S. from nearly 20 countries identified as high-risk for terrorism, visa abuse, and failure to share security information.
The new travel restrictions — announced under Executive Order 14161 — apply to nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen, all deemed “very high risk” due to terrorist activity, weak or hostile governments, and high visa overstay rates.
Citizens from another seven countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Laos, are under partial travel restrictions, Fox News reported.
“President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson told the outlet.
She called the restrictions “common sense” and were aimed at countries that “lack proper vetting, exhibit high visa overstay rates, or fail to share identity and threat information.”
In a video posted to socials Wednesday evening, Trump addressed a recent terror incident involving a man who overstayed his visa.
“The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas. We don’t want them,” Trump said.
“In the 21st century, we’ve seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world,” he added. “Thanks to Biden’s open-door policies, today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country.”
“The list is subject to revision based on whether material improvements are made,” the president added. “And likewise new countries can be added as threats emerge around the world, but we will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe.”
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Trump said his first-term travel restrictions were “one of our most successful policies” and “a key part of preventing major foreign terror attacks on American soil.”
Afghanistan, which is under Taliban control—a designated global terrorist organization—has a student visa overstay rate of 29.3%.
Iran continues to be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism and has declined to cooperate with U.S. authorities. Meanwhile, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen lack stable, functioning governments capable of issuing secure travel documentation.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” 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,” he concluded. “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe.”
Not surprisingly, Democrats objected to Trump’s declaration as they did during his first term, claiming without merit or evidence that his latest action is “discriminatory” and racist.
“This discriminatory policy is beyond shameful,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), wrote on the X platform. “Just like his first Muslim Ban, this latest announcement flies in the face of basic morality and goes directly against our values. This racist policy will not make us safe, it will separate families and endanger lives. We cannot let it stand.”
The ban includes exemptions for current visa holders, lawful permanent residents, certain visa categories, and individuals deemed to serve U.S. national interests. President Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted a security review of “high-risk regions” and recommended which countries should face new travel restrictions, Politico reported.