List of 12 Countries Whose Citizens Are Banned from Entering the US
Reporter
June 8, 2025 | 12:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Donald Trump has banned citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States (US). This policy was announced following an attack in Colorado last weekend, which Trump believes demonstrated the significant danger posed by inadequately screened foreign arrivals.
"We will not allow those who wish to harm us to enter our country," said Trump in a video statement reported by Sky News. He added that many of them "come as temporary visitors and overstay their visas".
12 Countries Subject to Full Ban
As reported by CNN, the following are the 12 countries subject to a full ban from entering the US:
1. Afghanistan
Controlled by the Taliban since 2021, Afghanistan is not officially recognized by the US. However, exceptions are made for Afghan citizens who have assisted the US government and qualify for special visa programs.
2. Myanmar (Burma)
Ruled by a military junta involved in bloody civil conflict, considered uncooperative in repatriating its citizens from the US.
3. Chad
Has a very high visa overstay rate. Around 50 percent of Chadian visa holders were reported to have overstayed their permits by 2023.
4. Republic of the Congo
Involved in prolonged internal conflict with an unstable government.
5. Equatorial Guinea
Deemed to lack adequate security screening for its citizens.
6. Eritrea
Accused of war crimes during the conflict in Ethiopia. The US has very cold relations with this country.
7. Haiti
In a state of unrest and controlled by armed gangs in most of its capital, Port-au-Prince.
8. Iran
Has no diplomatic relations with the US and is considered a potential facilitator for terrorist groups.
9. Libya
Its political and security situation is uncontrollable. The US government accuses both state and non-state actors in Libya of committing crimes against humanity.
10. Somalia
Identified as a "safe haven for terrorists" with a weak government and largely uncontrollable territory.
11. Sudan
The Sudanese military government is reported to have used chemical weapons in armed conflict. Diplomatic relations with the US have deteriorated since 2023.
12. Yemen
Most of its territory is controlled by Houthi rebels, considered a threat, particularly due to attacks on the trade route in the Red Sea.
Countries with Partial Restrictions
In addition to the 12 countries mentioned above, Trump has also imposed partial restrictions on citizens from the following seven countries:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela.
They are considered to pose a high risk to US national security. Most of these countries have cold or hostile relations with Washington, and some of them are experiencing political turmoil or are ruled by authoritarian regimes.
President Trump stated that this policy is a crucial part of preventing large-scale foreign terrorist attacks on American soil. The new list of banned countries makes it difficult for many countries to enter the US.
However, Trump specifically excluded Syria after meeting with the country's leader on a recent trip to the Middle East. The ban on entering the US does not apply to athletes and coaches competing in the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in the US.
This ban is also one of the most controversial. It became known as the "Muslim ban" that sparked widespread protests. Thousands of people gathered at US airports to protest the detention of travelers from the affected countries.
Dewi Rina Cahyani contributed to the writing of this article.
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