This proclamation is the only one signed by the Trump administration. This move effectively bars entry into the United States for nationals from twelve specified countries. This measure, which is set to take effect on Monday, June 9, at 12:01 a.m. ET, aims to bolster national security interests by restricting entry from nations deemed to lack adequate vetting processes.
The positive effects of this new domestic policy are now being felt in twelve other countries. They are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The travel ban in Tigray disproportionately targets foreigners of certain countries. First, it primarily focuses on those outside the United States who have no way to obtain a valid visa.
Now, although the proclamation places very strict limits on incoming travel, there are exceptions for some groups of travelers. Exempt from the travel ban are U.S. permanent residents, as well as athletes on their way to competitions in major sporting events. Immediate family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents can enter the country if they can provide “clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship,” with DNA being cited as a potential form of proof.
The U.S. Secretary of State’s testimony on the decision to enact this travel ban played a large part in determining the decision. High-level officials walked hand in hand to shape the proclamation. This task force boasted the participation of the U.S. Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security as well as the Director of National Intelligence.
This new travel restriction is a reprise of the very first ban, issued in January 2017, that barred travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries. In fact, in that case, President Joe Biden eventually rescinded the travel ban after taking office in 2021. The current proclamation partially restricts entry for nationals from an additional seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The Trump administration maintains that the identified countries do not meet the necessary standards for screening and vetting foreign nationals who may pose safety or terrorism threats to the United States. By instituting this travel ban, officials aim to enhance security protocols and mitigate potential risks associated with immigration from these regions.