Trump bans entry of 12 countries’ citizens to US

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order prohibiting citizens from 12 Asian, African, and Latin American countries from entering the United States, and restricting entry for citizens of an additional seven countries.

According to the White House, entry is now barred for nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The ban will come into effect on June 9.

Entry is partially restricted for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan.

In a video message regarding the signing of the executive order, Donald Trump stated that many foreigners entering the U.S., especially from countries where proper visa checks are difficult, or those living in the U.S. with expired visas, pose a threat to the country.

“In the 21st century, we have seen terrorist attacks carried out by foreigners with expired visas from some of the world’s dangerous places,” Trump stated.

The president also promised that the blacklist would be reviewed if the situation improves in certain countries, potentially easing restrictions, and conversely, new countries could be added to the list.