Payam Javan: President Donald Trump’s travel ban, enacted through a presidential proclamation, took effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on June 9, barring nationals from 12 countries—Afghanistan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Burma, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—from entering the United States. Additionally, entry restrictions were imposed on seven other nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—prohibiting their citizens from obtaining specific visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J types. The proclamation, tied to national security and public safety concerns, allows those already in the U.S. with valid visas to remain. Trump cited the June 1 Boulder, Colorado terror attack by an Egyptian visa overstayer and issues like high visa overstay rates (e.g., Chad’s 37-55% in 2022-2023) and non-cooperation from foreign governments as justifications.

The African Union Commission also raised concerns, urging the U.S. to adopt a more consultative approach. Trump linked specific bans to regional issues, such as the Taliban’s control of Afghanistan, Iran’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and Haiti’s influx of illegal immigrants, which he claims increases risks of criminal networks and national security threats. While not legally binding, the proclamation signals a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.