- विज्ञापन -
Washington [US]: President Donald Trump’s new travel ban, which targets 12 countries primarily from Africa and the Middle East, went into effect on Monday, further escalating tensions over the Trump administration’s intensified immigration restrictions, CNN reported. The order impacts citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It also imposes restrictions on individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are outside the United States and lack valid visas.
While the policy does not cancel existing visas, it restricts new applications unless travelers meet certain exemption criteria. According to official guidance, individuals with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the U.S. The restrictions aim to prevent the legal chaos and airport disruptions seen during Trump’s first travel ban, emphasizing improved legal justifications by focusing on visa processes rather than outright entry bans. This approach is widely viewed as an effort to dodge legal challenges that hindered earlier versions.
Trump defended the move, citing security concerns and claiming that some countries have inadequate screening systems or do not cooperate with U.S. deportation efforts. He also referenced visa overstay rates from an annual Homeland Security report, although experts have questioned the reliability of these data. The president linked the ban to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, which was carried out by a man from Egypt—a country not included in the ban.
Critics, including rights groups and immigration advocates, have condemned the policy, arguing it is motivated more by divisiveness than security. Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, stated that the policy seeks to sow discord and vilify communities seeking safety and opportunity in the U.S.
The inclusion of Afghanistan has sparked particular backlash, especially among those assisting Afghan refugees. Although exemptions exist for Afghans holding Special Immigrant Visas—mostly those who worked closely with the U.S. military—many critics argue that the broader restrictions undermine refugee protections. Afghanistan was historically among the top sources of refugees arriving in the U.S., with about 14,000 coming in the year ending September 2024. This latest restriction follows Trump’s initial move to suspend refugee admissions on his first day in office, a policy he has continued to expand.
