WASHINGTON (CP) – President Donald Trump announced new travel restrictions affecting travelers from more than a dozen countries, expanding upon previous policies to enhance national security and immigration controls as part of his administration’s comprehensive border protection strategy.
President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation Wednesday implementing travel restrictions on individuals from multiple countries, with the new measures set to take effect June 9. The updated policy fully restricts entry from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Additional partial restrictions will apply to travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, according to White House officials.
The travel restrictions represent part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to strengthen USA border security and protect American citizens through enhanced vetting procedures. White House communications director confirmed that the measures build upon existing immigration policies while addressing current global security concerns. The administration announced that the restrictions would help prevent individuals from countries with limited information-sharing capabilities or security concerns from entering the United States without proper screening.
Immigration policy experts note that similar measures were previously implemented during Trump’s first presidential term, though the current version includes additional countries and updated security protocols. The policy comes amid ongoing political discussions about immigration reform and border security measures across the USA. Several advocacy groups have indicated they plan to challenge the restrictions through legal proceedings, arguing that the measures may affect legitimate travelers and family reunification efforts.
The announcement follows recent immigration enforcement operations across multiple states, including Florida, where federal authorities conducted large-scale operations targeting individuals with pending deportation orders. Trump administration officials emphasize that the travel restrictions are designed to protect national security while maintaining America’s commitment to legal immigration processes. The State Department will work with affected countries to establish improved information-sharing agreements that could potentially lead to the lifting of restrictions in 2025.