President Donald Trump has reintroduced a key policy from his first term, announcing a new travel ban that affects citizens from 12 countries, with additional restrictions for seven others. This ban is set to take effect on Monday at 12:01 a.m., a move designed to prevent the chaos seen in 2017 when a similar ban was implemented without much notice. This new travel ban is outlined in Executive Order 14161.
Affected countries
The new ban targets citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These countries face a complete ban on entry to the U.S., meaning immigrants and nonimmigrants are banned from entering the U.S.
Additionally, visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will encounter heightened restrictions. Only individuals on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas are prevented from entering the US under the partial ban.
Reason behind the ban
Trump has linked the new ban to a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, highlighting the risks posed by individuals who overstay their visas. Interestingly, the suspect in this attack is from Egypt, a country not included in the new restrictions. The Department of Homeland Security noted that the suspect had overstayed a tourist visa.
Screening and Vetting Concerns
Trump has pointed out that some countries have “deficient” screening and vetting processes or have historically refused to take back their own citizens. His findings are apparently based heavily on an annual Homeland Security report that highlights visa overstays by tourists, business visitors, and students arriving by air and sea. These reports single out countries with high percentages of individuals remaining in the U.S. after their visas have expired. “We don’t want them,” Trump stated.
Conclusion
This travel ban is part of Trump’s ongoing efforts to address national security concerns by controlling who enters the United States. While the ban is controversial, it reflects the administration’s focus on preventing potential threats from abroad.
If you have questions about the travel ban, please e-mail cprescott@patellegal.com.