Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping directive to ban the entry to citizens from 12 countries, in a move the White House says is aimed at protecting national security.
According to CNN, the order came after an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday (June 1). which officials say accelerated the decision. White House official said Trump had already been considering issuing the ban, but the recent attack prompted him to accelerate the plan.
“President Trump is delivering on his promise to protect the American people from dangerous foreign nationals who seek to enter and harm our country,” said White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson in a post on X.
The directive affects individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The ban includes several exemptions, including lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, individuals with certain visa categories, and those deemed to serve U.S. national interests.
“These restrictions are tailored to each country and apply to regions with inadequate vetting procedures, high visa overstay rates, or failure to share identity and threat-related information,” Abigail added.
In addition to the full entry ban of citizens from 12 country, Trump administration is imposing partial travel restrictions on citizens from seven other nations: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
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From the outset of his presidency, Trump had instructed his cabinet to identify countries that pose threats to U.S. national security, promote extremist ideologies, or manipulate immigration laws for hostile purposes.
The administration reportedly categorized nations with a color-coded system, red, orange, and yellow, each reflecting varying levels of restriction.
The controversial order also targets higher education. Trump has announced a visa ban for new international students planning to begin studies at Harvard University, escalating his administration’s pressure on one of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions.
Existing foreign students at Harvard could also face heightened scrutiny, with the potential for visa reviews and revocations.
(Raidi/Agung)
