Trump enacts travel ban on 12 countries citing vetting failures and national security after Boulder attack.

Travel Ban Follows Attack and Targets Unreliable Vetting Systems

President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting travel to the United States from a dozen countries took effect on Monday. The action bars entry for citizens of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen who do not hold valid U.S. visas.

Signed last week, the new order also places enhanced restrictions on individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are currently outside the country and lack a valid visa. Those with existing visas from the targeted countries remain eligible to enter the United States under current immigration laws.

The administration justified the move by citing national security threats and insufficient vetting procedures in the listed countries. The announcement came shortly after a terror attack last weekend in Boulder, Colorado, reportedly perpetrated by an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa. The attack targeted a pro-Israel group advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“We will restore the travel ban, some people call it the Trump travel ban, and keep the radical Islamic terrorists out of our country,” Trump said in a statement released through the White House. He emphasized that the decision was rooted in security concerns and was not directed at any particular religion or ethnicity.

State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott reinforced the administration’s position during a press briefing, stating, “This is a national security imperative.” He explained that the ban was necessary to prevent unvetted individuals from entering the country and posing a potential threat to public safety.

“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said prior to signing the executive order. “That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya and numerous others.”

The administration has framed the policy as a safeguard against terrorism and emphasized its commitment to strengthening the immigration system. According to the president, the U.S. must remain vigilant against individuals seeking to cause harm and must not allow flaws in global vetting systems to undermine national security.

The new travel restrictions are expected to face both legal and political scrutiny in the coming weeks. However, White House officials maintain the ban is a lawful and necessary step to prevent future attacks on American soil.