On Wednesday, President Trump signed a proclamation barring immigrants from 12 countries from entering the U.S. due to national security concerns.
“I have determined to fully restrict and limit the entry of nationals of the following 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen,” the president wrote in the order.
Additionally, the Trump administration will “partially restrict and limit the entry of nationals” from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Trump cited Sunday’s antisemitic firebombing in Colorado—allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national who overstayed a tourist visa—as justification for his immigration crackdown.
“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, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,” the president said in a video discussing the proclamation posted on Truth Social. “We don’t want them.”
“Many of these countries have also taken advantage of the United States in their exploitation of our visa system and their historic failure to accept back their removable nationals,” Trump said of the nations on the list.
The president claimed foreign nationals from the blocked countries “pose significant risks of overstaying their visas,” which strains law enforcement resources and “often exacerbates other risks related to national security and public safety.”
“As President, I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” Trump added, noting that he remains “committed to engaging with those countries willing to cooperate to improve information-sharing and identity-management procedures, and to address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks.”
Watch the announcement below:
"We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen… That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others." –President Trump pic.twitter.com/ER7nGM4TO2
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 4, 2025
[h/t New York Post]