• Trump's proclamation bans nationals from 12 countries including Afghanistan and Iran from entering the U.S.
• Seven additional countries face partial travel restrictions.
• The announcement follows a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, raising national security concerns.
• Implications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics regarding athlete participation and fan access.
• Several countries have expressed dismay and disbelief over the travel ban, calling it discriminatory.

United States President Donald Trump has signed a new travel ban that affects the nationals of 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia. The ban is set to go into effect on June 9, 2025, and is part of Trump's broader immigration crackdown aimed at protecting the U.S. from "foreign terrorists" and other security threats, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The 12 countries subject to the travel ban are Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, seven other countries, including Burundi, Cuba, and Venezuela, will experience partial travel restrictions. The travel ban, reminiscent of Trump's earlier "Muslim ban" from 2017, has sparked significant controversy, as noted in CNN and BBC.

The recent justification for the ban is linked to an attack in Boulder, Colorado, by an Egyptian national, underlining the administration's stance on necessary immigration control measures. Notably, Egypt was not included in the ban list, as reported by HuffPost and NY Times.

International reactions have been swift, with officials from the affected countries expressing outrage. For example, Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno condemned the ban, asserting national dignity and pride amid visa restrictions against U.S. citizens traveling there, according to Africanews.

The new travel restrictions also raise concerns about potential impacts on global sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, which will see limited participation from athletes representing nations affected by the ban. Organizers emphasize that arrangements will be made for athletes, but no such provisions have been announced for fans, according to BBC and Newsweek.

Advocates for human rights have cited the ban as discriminatory, arguing it plays into a pattern of xenophobic and racially biased policies. "Make no mistake: Trump’s travel ban will NOT make America safer," noted Rep. Pramila Jayapal, reflecting broader discontent among lawmakers, reported by Salon.