June 5, 2025
We don’t want them.
President Donald Trump on “foreign nationals not properly vetted” or those “overstaying their visas” as he announces a travel ban that will go into effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. for the countries of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. He also announced partial restrictions for those from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Why It Matters: This ban comes as part of a review President Trump issued through executive action his first day in office to identify countries that had “deficient” screening processes. He says the ban prioritizes national security and acts upon the recommendations made by Cabinet members (secretary of state, attorney general, secretary of Homeland Security, and the director of National Intelligence):
“As President, I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people. I remain committed to engaging with those countries willing to cooperate to improve information-sharing and identity-management procedures, and to address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks. Nationals of some countries also pose significant risks of overstaying their visas in the United States, which increases burdens on immigration and law enforcement components of the United States, and often exacerbates other risks related to national security and public safety.” (White House)
Important To Note: The new executive action includes exceptions for “lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests.” (White House)
Context: The president mentioned the attack in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, June 2. The suspect in this case, an Egyptian national, overstayed his visa. The restrictions do not include Egypt. The Boulder attack continues to be investigated as a terror attack. Other confirmed terror attacks, including the terrorists involved in 9/11 and the San Bernardino attack in 2015, have raised questions about the visa vetting process.
Examples from Executive Order:
The proclamation includes those from:
• Afghanistan because the country “lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.”
• In the case of Chad, the overstay rate for certain visas ranges from “49.54 percent” to “55.64 percent” according to the White House.
• Iran “fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks, is the source of significant terrorism around the world, and has historically failed to accept back its removable nationals.”
Another Perspective: Shawn VanDiver, president and board chairman of #AfghanEvac: “To include Afghanistan — a nation whose people stood alongside American service members for 20 years — is a moral disgrace. It spits in the face of our allies, our veterans, and every value we claim to uphold.” (AP)
READ the full Presidential Announcement and Fact Sheet
Read More: Trump announces travel ban and restrictions on 19 countries set to go into effect Monday (AP)
by Jenna Lee, Founder of SmartHER News
