Trump's travel ban on 12 countries set to take effect Monday

A sweeping travel ban ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump will go into effect early Monday, barring entry to citizens from 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on travelers from seven others. The move, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET, has drawn strong reactions both at home and abroad.

The countries facing a full entry ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, partial restrictions will apply to citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Trump, a Republican, defended the executive order as necessary to protect national security, claiming the targeted countries either host terrorist elements, fail to meet U.S. security standards for visas, or have inadequate record-keeping and traveler vetting systems. He also cited high visa overstay rates as a factor.

“The United States cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to foreign threats,” Trump said, referencing a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national was accused of throwing a gasoline bomb into a crowd. Egypt, however, is not on the ban list.

The announcement has triggered strong backlash internationally. Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced retaliatory measures, stating his country will stop issuing visas to U.S. citizens. “Chad has neither planes to offer nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and its pride,” he posted on Facebook, in a pointed comment referencing countries that have made large financial gifts to the U.S.

In Afghanistan, former contractors and aid workers who had hoped to resettle in the U.S. expressed fear for their safety. With the Taliban still exerting control over large parts of the country, some now face the possibility of forced return.

The ban has also sparked criticism within the United States. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna called the move “draconian and unconstitutional,” emphasizing the right of individuals to seek asylum.

The policy echoes Trump’s earlier efforts during his first term to restrict immigration from several Muslim-majority countries—a measure that prompted legal challenges and national protests.

As of Sunday, there has been no indication that the administration plans to modify or delay the order. Legal observers expect new lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the restrictions in the days ahead.

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