Houston– A sweeping new travel ban issued by former President Donald Trump has officially taken effect, sparking widespread protests and heightening tensions over immigration enforcement across the United States.
Over the weekend, clashes erupted in downtown Los Angeles as protesters confronted National Guard troops during demonstrations opposing immigration raids carried out across California. In New York City, activists occupied the lobby of Trump Tower on Monday, demanding the release of immigrants detained in recent sweeps. According to reports from local media cited by Xinhua, police arrested at least 20 demonstrators after a tense 20-minute standoff.
The ban, signed by Trump last week, fully bars entry to nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The White House said the countries were identified as posing a “very high risk” due to deficiencies in security screening and vetting processes.
The order also imposes partial restrictions on travelers from seven additional nations: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
“These restrictions and limitations are necessary to secure cooperation from foreign governments, enforce U.S. immigration laws, and support broader national security and counterterrorism goals,” the White House stated in its announcement.
The policy includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, individuals with valid visas, certain visa categories, and those whose entry is deemed in the U.S. national interest.
The current move revives one of Trump’s most controversial policies from his first term. In 2017, he introduced a travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries, a measure that faced intense legal challenges and public backlash before being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. President Joe Biden rescinded the ban upon taking office in 2021, calling it discriminatory and inconsistent with American values.
With the reinstatement of the travel ban, immigration remains a deeply polarizing issue ahead of the 2024 election season. Critics argue that the measure unfairly targets vulnerable populations and will exacerbate humanitarian crises, while supporters claim it strengthens national security and upholds immigration law.
As demonstrations continue to spread nationwide, civil rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations are preparing legal challenges to the new proclamation, setting the stage for another high-stakes political and judicial battle. (Source: IANS)
