Trump Imposes Travel Ban on 12 Countries Including Africa, Haiti

President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban restricting entry from 12 countries, including Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and the Republic of the Congo, and partially limiting travel from seven others such as Burundi and Cuba. The ban, effective June 9, was justified by Trump as a national security measure following a recent antisemitic attack in Colorado by an individual allegedly in the country illegally, though critics noted the attacker was from Egypt, a nation not on the banned list. The African Union Commission appealed to the Trump administration to approach border security with balanced, evidence-based measures, warning the ban could harm longstanding diplomatic, educational, and commercial ties between the U.S. and Africa. The ban exempts certain visa holders and lawful permanent residents, while the administration claims it stems from difficulties in properly vetting applicants from these countries. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, condemned the ban as bigoted and ineffective in enhancing U.S. security. Analysts have noted that the order builds on a January directive for the Department of Homeland Security to evaluate the reliability of background checks from these nations.