By Petra Njeri
President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order on June 4 2025 enforcing a total ban from travel to the United States on twelve countries deemed to pose elevated national security risks.
The restrictions, grounded in national security by U.S. agencies, aim to protect the nation from foreign terrorist and other national security and public safety threats from entry into the United States.
“Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14161, issued on January 20, 2025, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” national security agencies engaged in a robust assessment of the risk that countries posed to the United States, including regarding terrorism and national security,” The White House stated.
Twelve countries face full travel bans, meaning nationals from these countries are barred from entering the U.S.
The twelve countries were found to be “deficient with regards to screening and vetting” and a very high risk to the United States according to The White House.
This countries included Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
An additional seven countries are subject to partial restrictions.
This includes Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
These nations were cited for high visa overstay rates, inadequate vetting systems, and in some cases, active ties to terrorism or lack of functioning governments.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen…,” President Trump stated.
The restrictions and limitations imposed by the order are cited as necessary for the U.S. to garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce its immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives.
“It is the President’s sacred duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people,” The White House stated.
The order, set to take effect on Monday 9th June 2025, aligns with the Administration’s efforts to secure America’s borders and national interests.
Speaking at the White House, President Trump cited the recent “terror attack” in Boulder, Colorado as an indicator of the dangers posed to the United States by entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.
The incident occurred on June 1 2025 when Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national living in Colorado Springs, allegedly set a crowd of crowd of demonstrators on fire yelling “Free Palestine!”.
The crowd was advocating for Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Twelve people were injured in total with eight victims suffering from burn injuries.
Trump attributed the heightened attacks experienced in the country to President Joe Biden’s open boarder policy citing that it allowed entry to foreign nationals from all over.
“In the 21st Century we’ve seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa over-stayers from dangerous places all over the world, thanks to Biden’s open door policies today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country.” President Trump stated
The order allows exemptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, and certain visa categories that serve U.S. national interests.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” the President stated.
Furthermore, he noted that new countries could be added to the travel restriction list as threats emerge.