10 Key facts about Trump’s sweeping ban on 12 Countries

President Donald Trump has reignited fierce debate over immigration and national security with the signing of a sweeping proclamation that bans travel to the United States from nationals of 12 countries, citing “unacceptable security risks.”

Below are 10 key facts about the ban.

1. 12 Nations Targeted
The full travel ban affects nationals from: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

2. Goes Into Effect June 9
The proclamation is set to be enforced starting Monday, June 9, according to the White House.

3. National Security Justification
The ban is justified on the basis of national security risks, lack of proper vetting systems, visa overstay issues, and failure to share identity/threat information.

4. Not the First Ban
This is an expansion of Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which was widely referred to as the “Muslim ban” and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.

5. Partial Restrictions on 7 Other Countries
Additional countries face partial travel restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

6. Trump’s Video Announcement
Trump announced the ban via a video on Truth Social, blaming “Biden’s open-door policies” and referencing a recent attack in Colorado involving an Egyptian national.

7. Criticism from Democrats
Lawmakers like Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Don Beyer have condemned the ban as discriminatory, divisive, and harmful to U.S. global standing.

8. Egypt Not on the List
Despite being referenced in Trump’s statement, Egypt is not one of the banned countries, even though the alleged Colorado attacker was Egyptian.

9. Ban Includes Foreign Students
Trump also imposed a six-month freeze on new foreign student admissions at Harvard, accusing the university of ties to China and failing to properly monitor foreign nationals.

10. List May Change
The list of affected countries is subject to revision, with Trump stating that restrictions may be lifted if countries improve vetting and cooperation.