US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday instituting a travel ban for citizens of 12 countries, claiming it is essential for national security and to protect against 'foreign terrorists.' This directive is part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy that began at the start of his second term, which has already included the deportation of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador and efforts to restrict foreign student enrollments.

The countries subject to the travel ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additionally, restrictions will be partially applied to nationals from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Trump communicated the rationale for the ban in a video released on social media, stating, 'We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.' He indicated that the list of affected countries could change over time, with the potential for further additions.

The proclamation is set to take effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT (0401 GMT), and it specifies that visas issued before this date will not be canceled.

This new directive revisits themes from Trump's previous term, during which a travel ban affecting seven predominantly Muslim countries was announced and later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, rescinded the earlier travel restrictions on several countries in 2021, condemning the policy as a 'stain on our national conscience.'

The criteria for the latest travel restrictions were cited as being based on the countries' associations with terrorism, inadequate cooperation on visa security, and difficulties in verifying travelers' identities and criminal histories.

Trump emphasized the necessity for stringent vetting processes, citing a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national is accused of using a gasoline bomb amid a demonstration.

In response to the travel ban, Somalia expressed a commitment to work constructively with the United States to resolve security concerns.

The Somali ambassador to the U.S. stated, 'Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue.'

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello criticized the U.S. government, characterizing it as 'fascist' and cautioned Venezuelans about the risks of being in the U.S. amid the renewed restrictions.

As diplomatic channels remained quiet, there was no immediate response from the Taliban-led Afghan foreign ministry.

Thousands of Afghans awaiting resettlement in Pakistan were left uncertain about their future following the announcement.

The travel ban has already disrupted plans for a Myanmar educator who was scheduled to participate in a U.S. State Department exchange program.

The teacher, currently residing in Thailand, expressed concern over her outstanding visa application and the impact of the travel ban on her career prospects.

Moreover, Trump's recent statements regarding security measures include plans to impose restrictions on individuals from conflict-prone regions such as Gaza, Libya, and Syria.

An executive order he signed earlier in January mandated enhanced security screening processes for those seeking admission into the U.S. in an effort to flag potential national security threats.

The new travel restrictions were first reported by various news outlets earlier this week, amid ongoing discussions from the Trump administration about broader travel limitations affecting multiple countries.