President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new travel restrictions affecting 19 countries, in a move his administration says is designed to strengthen national security and curb illegal immigration. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and governments worldwide, many of whom argue the policy disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.
Twelve countries, including several in Africa and the Middle East, now face full bans on travel to the United States. These include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Haiti. Citizens from these nations will no longer be able to obtain U.S. visas or enter the country under any circumstances, unless granted rare exceptions.
Seven additional countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan will face significant travel restrictions, including delays in visa processing and increased scrutiny.
The Trump administration has defended the policy as a necessary step to protect Americans. A senior official cited “weak traveler vetting systems,” ties to terrorist organizations, and what they described as “uncooperative governments” that refuse to take back deported nationals.
“We have a duty to secure our borders and ensure those entering our country are properly vetted,” President Trump said in a statement. “These are countries that have shown they cannot or will not meet the standards we require to keep our nation safe.”
The announcement has triggered widespread criticism. Advocacy groups accuse the administration of targeting poorer nations and exacerbating humanitarian crises.
“This is a blunt, sweeping policy that will separate families, disrupt lives, and further stigmatize entire nations,” said Maria Gutierrez of the Migration Justice Alliance, a U.S.-based rights organisation. “It’s difficult to separate this from broader patterns of discrimination.”
Some analysts have also pointed to the geopolitical undertones of the decision, with several of the affected countries having strained diplomatic ties with Washington in recent years.Several foreign ministries have responded with dismay. A spokesperson for the Sudanese government called the ban “unjustified and harmful,”
