US President Donald Trump has enacted a new travel ban affecting 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Yemen, reviving a highly controversial policy from his previous term, reports RTE.
He said the decision followed a flamethrower attack at a protest in Colorado, which US officials attributed to an undocumented immigrant.
The order blocks all travel to the US from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, reports RTE.
Additionally, a partial restriction has been placed on travelers from seven more countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Nationals from these countries may still be eligible for some temporary work visas.
According to the White House, the new bans will take effect on Monday, reports RTE.
“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,” Mr Trump said in a video message from the Oval Office posted on X, reports RTE.
“We don’t want them,” he added, reports RTE.
However, exemptions will apply to athletes participating in the 2026 World Cup, which the US is co-hosting, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as specified in Mr Trump’s order.
He likened the new restrictions to his earlier “powerful” 2017 ban targeting several predominantly Muslim nations, which caused widespread travel disruption, reports RTE.
Mr Trump credited that earlier measure with preventing the kinds of terror incidents that later happened in Europe.
“We will not let what happened in Europe happen in America,” Mr Trump said, reports RTE.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” he added, r r
In reaction, Venezuela condemned the US, calling it a dangerous destination.
“Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans,” Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said after the announcement, warning citizens against travelling there, reports RTE.
The African Union Commission voiced concerns about how the travel bans might damage educational, commercial, and diplomatic ties.
“The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the US administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned,” it said in a statement, reports RTE.
The newly announced travel restrictions may also face legal opposition, as was the case with many of Mr Trump’s aggressive actions upon returning to office.
The White House disclosed the ban with almost no prior notice, just minutes after Mr Trump addressed about 3,000 political appointees during a festive “summer soiree” from a balcony.
He also made the announcement without the presence of journalists — a break from tradition, as major policy changes are often shared during formal Oval Office ceremonies, reports RTE.
Mr Trump’s official proclamation outlined the reasoning for each country’s inclusion, stating the policy aims to protect the US from “foreign terrorists and other national security” risks.
Countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen were included due to what the order described as a lack of “competent” authorities for verifying identities and documents, reports RTE.
Iran remained on the list because it is labeled a “state sponsor of terrorism,” despite ongoing nuclear negotiations with the US.
“The impact of the ban will once again be felt by Americans who were denied the ability to see their loved ones at weddings, funerals, or the birth of a child,” said National Iranian American Council president Jamal Abdi, reports RTE.
In many other cases, the ban cited higher-than-average visa overstay rates as justification.
Separately, President Trump introduced a visa ban specifically targeting new international students set to start at Harvard University, intensifying his administration’s pressure campaign on the institution.
He argued that Harvard has become a national security concern and claimed it enables anti-Semitism and liberal partisanship on campus, reports RTE.
According to a proclamation from the White House, entry of international students beginning new programs at Harvard would be “suspended and limited” for six months, while existing students from abroad could see their visas revoked.
“Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,” said the order, reports RTE.
This followed previous attempts by the Trump administration to strip Harvard of its authority to host international students, efforts that were initially blocked by a judge.
The administration has already slashed approximately $3.2 billion (€2.8 billion) in federal grants and contracts for Harvard and vowed to withhold any future federal funding, reports RTE.
In response, Harvard condemned the order, labeling it a retaliatory action.
“This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights. Harvard will continue to protect its international students,” said a Harvard spokesperson, reports RTE.
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