BREAKING: President Trump Announces U.S. Travel Ban on 19 Countries Over Security Concerns — Full List Revealed
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Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has reinstated a sweeping travel ban affecting citizens from 19 countries, citing national security and immigration enforcement as top priorities for his administration.
The new directive, issued via executive proclamation, takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., allowing a short grace period to minimize the airport confusion that marked a similar ban during his first term in 2017.
TJ News Nigeria reports that the order includes 12 countries facing outright travel bans and 7 others subject to heightened entry restrictions.
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List of Countries Fully Banned from Entering the U.S.
The following nations are now subject to a full travel ban under President Trump’s new executive action:
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Afghanistan
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Myanmar
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Chad
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Republic of Congo
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Equatorial Guinea
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Eritrea
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Haiti
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Iran
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Libya
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Somalia
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Sudan
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Yemen
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Countries Facing Heightened Entry Restrictions
In addition to the 12 fully banned nations, the U.S. will impose strict vetting and limitations on travelers from the following seven countries:
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Burundi
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Cuba
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Laos
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Sierra Leone
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Togo
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Turkmenistan
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Venezuela
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Why the Ban Was Reinstated
TJ News Nigeria learned that President Trump’s decision followed a classified national security review led by the Departments of State and Homeland Security, as well as the Director of National Intelligence. The administration cited several factors behind the move, including:
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Inadequate vetting systems in the listed countries
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Non-compliance with U.S. information-sharing standards
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High rates of visa overstays by citizens of specific nations
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Hostile or uncooperative diplomatic relations
“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” President Trump declared in the official proclamation issued from the White House.
Haiti’s Inclusion Raises Global Concerns
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One of the more notable additions is Haiti, which was not included in the original 2017 version of Trump’s travel ban. This time, the country made the list due to what officials called “extreme visa overstay rates” and the absence of a stable government to share credible law enforcement and identity data.
“Haiti lacks a central authority with sufficient law enforcement capacity to ensure its nationals do not pose a threat to the national security of the United States,” the proclamation reads.
The inclusion of Haiti, already grappling with violent gang control, political collapse, and widespread hunger, has drawn criticism from humanitarian groups and immigration advocates.
A Policy Rooted in Trump’s First Term Legacy
TJ News Nigeria gathered that the new ban is reminiscent of Trump’s highly controversial 2017 travel ban, initially targeting seven Muslim-majority countries. That order, which critics dubbed the “Muslim Ban,” faced multiple legal challenges and was later revised before being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.
While the original list included Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, the revised version expanded to include North Korea and certain Venezuelan government officials. The latest 2025 order builds upon this precedent, this time targeting countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Legal Framework and Supreme Court Backing
Trump’s executive action is based on an executive order signed on January 20, 2025, which required federal security agencies to assess global threats, especially from nations deemed “uncooperative” or “hostile” toward the United States.
With Supreme Court precedent on his side and political control of the White House reestablished, President Trump’s latest move appears to stand on solid legal ground — although civil liberties groups are already preparing to mount legal challenges.
Criticism and Diplomatic Fallout Expected
Critics of the ban argue that it disproportionately affects developing nations, many of which are experiencing internal conflict, authoritarian rule, or institutional collapse. Immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations in the U.S. have decried the move as xenophobic, racially biased, and inhumane.
Foreign governments whose citizens are affected by the order are expected to issue diplomatic protests, with some hinting at retaliatory visa measures or appeals to international legal bodies.
Editor’s Note
President Donald Trump’s return to office has ushered in the reactivation of one of the most divisive policies of his political career — the travel ban. With new countries added and the policy once again thrust into the global spotlight, both supporters and critics await to see how the move will affect immigration, diplomacy, and U.S. national security in the coming months.
TJ News Nigeria will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they unfold.
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