Trump accused of 'bigotry' with travel ban on 'dangerous' countries he says will SAVE American lives: Live updates

By GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 14:05 BST, 5 June 2025 | Updated: 14:26 BST, 5 June 2025

Donald Trump is getting hit with backlash after he announced a major ban on foreign nationals from ‘dangerous’ countries.

The president announced widespread bans and restrictions for visitors from 19 countries while simultaneously issuing a chilling warning that Egypt could be next.

Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be barred from entering the United States under the new order, which goes into effect on June 9.

Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted from traveling, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options.

Liberals were quick to pounce on Trump’s ‘discriminatory’ new policy, with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., saying: ‘Bigotry is not a national security strategy.’

Afghanistan ban is latest twist for citizens of war-torn nation

FILE - Afghan refugees hold placards during their meeting to discuss situation after President Donald Trump paused the U.S. refugee programs, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

Trump’s decision to include Afghans in his sweeping travel ban is just the latest twist in policy for citizens of that country seeking to come to the U.S., which fought a war in Afghanistan for two decades.

Back in April, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security announced it would not renew temporary protected status for Afghans, whose country is now ruled by the Talban following the U.S. withdrawal.

That ended a status designed by Congress for people seeking to flee war-torn countries that Trump’s team wants to roll back in several places. The Biden Administration had issued the designation in 2022 following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The U.S. government had also extended special immigrant visas to Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war.

Trump’s latest ban exempts Afghans eligible for SIVs from the ban.

The 12 countries on Trump’s travel ban list

President Donald Trump targeted 12 countries with a new travel ban, with seven more countries facing restricted travel.

Congressional Democrats blast Trump’s new travel ban

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

Prominent Democrats are tearing into President Trump’s latest travel ban. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who served as a House impeachment manager during Trump’s first term, said ‘this is Trump’s reckless first term travel ban all over again.’

‘Just like before, Trump’s expanded ban on travelers from around the world will not improve our national security and will only further isolate the U.S. from the rest of world. Bigotry is not a national security strategy,’ he posted on X.

Also hammering the policy was Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), the first Somali-American member of Congress, who is also a regular Trump target. She termed it ‘racist’ and said it would split families.

‘This discriminatory policy is beyond shameful. Just like his first Muslim Ban, this latest announcement flies in the face of basic morality and goes directly against our values. This racist policy will not make us safe, it will separate families and endanger lives. We cannot let it stand,’ she wrote.

Trump signs bombshell travel ban restricting people from 19 countries from entering the US

‘We don’t want ’em,’ Trump said bluntly in a video released shortly after the ban was announced on Wednesday evening.

‘Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen.’

Trump said he hopes their efforts will ‘confirm the adequacy of its current screening and vetting capabilities.’

He said the tragedy in Boulder ‘underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.

‘We’ve seen one terror attack after another from foreign visa overstayers… thanks to Biden’s open door policies today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country.’