The Trump administration tightens migration policy with a full entry ban for 12 countries

On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a full entry ban on citizens of 12 countries and introducing restrictions for citizens of seven more. The reason cited in the order is the absence, in these countries, of reliable vetting and monitoring procedures for individuals who could pose a security threat to the US.

"The list can change depending on improvements made by these countries. We are also ready to add new countries if threats emerge. But we will not allow people intent on causing harm into the US, and we will do everything to keep America safe," Trump said in a White House video address.

The president referenced the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, when Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman attacked participants of a pro-Israel rally with a bomb. Despite this incident, Egypt was not included on the list of banned countries, which sparked debate over the criteria used to select countries for the ban.

Trump also said that on the very first day of his current term, he directed the State Department to assess security in high-risk regions and propose the necessary restrictions.

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

The order takes effect at 00:01 on 9 June 2025. Exceptions are provided for holders of valid visas, permanent residents, and individuals whose presence serves US interests. The State Department has the authority to approve special cases individually.

This decision adds to the strict migration measures already introduced by the Trump administration, including blocking asylum applications at the southern border, ending temporary protected status for residents of countries facing humanitarian crises, and restricting visas for foreign students at Harvard University.

As a reminder, during his first term, Trump introduced a ban on entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries. After several revisions, the Supreme Court upheld the ban in 2018. Later, in 2021, President Joe Biden lifted the restrictions for Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.

The current entry ban on Afghan citizens could seriously affect those who assisted the US during its 20-year military operation in the country. Many Afghans have already been affected by previous decisions of the Trump administration, including the suspension of the refugee assistance programme and the cancellation of flight funding for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients.