Trump Signs New Travel Ban on 12 Countries

Yesterday, President Trump signed a new travel ban affecting 12 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. 

The ban, which goes into effect on Monday, bars travel to the United States by citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. People with existing visas would be exempted from the ban (the proclamation applies to foreign nationals of the designated countries who are outside the U.S. on June 9 and do not have a valid visa on June 9). Other exemptions include green card holders, immediate family immigrant visas, dual nationals, athletes traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup or the Olympics, and Afghans eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa program.

Mr. Trump also imposed restrictions on travel from citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. People from those countries cannot obtain immigrant (permanent residency) visas or tourist or student visas (B, F, M and J visas).

This travel ban resurrects a policy from Mr. Trump’s first term, which caused chaos at airports and led to legal challenges. This version of the travel ban cites issues with security vetting in certain countries and says immigrants from those countries frequently overstay their visas.

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