President Donald Trump has implemented a major new travel ban affecting nearly 20 countries deemed security risks. The executive order, announced Wednesday night, blocks entry to the United States for nationals from a dozen countries considered "very high risk" for terrorism and inadequate security vetting procedures.
According to Fox News, the restrictions target nations with weak government controls and concerning visa overstay rates.
The restrictions come under Executive Order 14161 and affect countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen. Seven additional nations, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Laos, face partial travel limitations rather than complete bans.
Trump directly connected the new policy to recent events, citing a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado as evidence of the need for stricter vetting procedures. In a video statement released with the order, the president emphasized the dangers posed by improperly vetted foreign nationals and visa overstayers.
"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 stated in his announcement.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson characterized the restrictions as "commonsense" measures targeting countries with inadequate vetting procedures, high visa overstay rates, or those failing to share security information with the United States.
Afghanistan exemplifies the administration's concerns, with officials pointing to its 29.3% student visa overstay rate and governance by the Taliban, a designated terrorist organization. Other countries on the list present similar security challenges that complicate proper vetting.
Iran remains designated as a state sponsor of terrorism and has consistently refused cooperation with U.S. authorities on security matters. Countries like Libya, Somalia, and Yemen lack functioning central governments capable of issuing secure identification documents or performing reliable background checks.
Trump framed the new ban as building on policies from his first term, which he described as "one of our most successful policies" and "a key part of preventing major foreign terror attacks on American soil."
The president took aim at his predecessor's immigration approach while announcing the new restrictions. He blamed the current situation on what he characterized as lax border enforcement under the previous administration.
"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," Trump said in his video announcement. "Thanks to Biden's open-door policies, today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country."
The administration emphasized that reliable vetting procedures are essential for maintaining national security. Officials maintain that countries unable to provide adequate documentation or security cooperation present unacceptable risks.
Trump's executive order represents a significant expansion of travel restrictions compared to previous policies. The administration has identified specific security deficiencies in each affected country to justify the bans.
The White House defended the move as necessary to protect American citizens from potential threats. The restrictions specifically target nations with demonstrated security issues rather than applying blanket bans based on religion or region.
"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 emphasized in his announcement. "That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya and numerous others."
