'We don’t want them': What prompted Trump’s travel ban on 12 nations; Is a rollback on the table?

Six months into his presidency, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a far-reaching travel ban, saying, "we don't want them." This travel ban, impacting a total of 19 countries, can majorly reshape immigration policy of the United States.

It was put forth through a presidential proclamation, the proposed restrictions introduce a three-tiered system of escalating barriers targeting nationals from more than a dozen countries.The measure is among the most aggressive in modern US history regarding global mobility. It has the potential to impact millions of people seeking entry to the United States for purposes including work, study, tourism, and relocation.

What prompted Trump's travel ban?

Trump's latest decision on travel ban came days after Egyptian national was arrested for attacking a Jewish protest in Colorado's Boulder. In a video message, he said the Boulder incident revealed the dangers posed by unvetted foreign nationals and visa overstayers. "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted," Trump said.

"We don't want them."

What is a travel ban?

A travel ban is a government-imposed restriction that prohibits or limits entry to the United States for citizens of specific countries. These restrictions may include total visa suspensions or targeted limitations on certain visa categories.Trump’s first executive order directed the State Department to identify nations where vetting procedures are inadequate, potentially justifying a full or partial suspension of entry for their nationals. The current proclamation builds on that order and cites a recent attack by an Egyptian national in Colorado's Boulder as additional justification.

What is a presidential proclamation?

A presidential proclamation is a formal announcement by the President. While some proclamations are ceremonial, others --especially during national emergencies, can carry legal and policy weight.Unlike executive orders that direct federal agencies, proclamations often signal sweeping policy shifts. In this case, the White House said, “The Proclamation fully restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 12 countries found to be deficient with regard to screening and vetting and determined to pose a very high risk to the United States.”

Ban go into effect from Monday

As per the White House's statement travel ban announced by Trump administration will go into effect from Monday.

Is a rollback on the table?

Trump added the latest travel ban was shaped by “foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism goals.” He said the list of restricted countries could change, adding it was “subject to revisions based on whether material improvements are made,” and “new countries could be added as threats emerge around the world.” On the campaign trail last year, Trump had pledged, “I will ban refugee resettlement from terror-infested areas like the Gaza Strip… Remember the famous travel ban?... We’re not taking them from infested countries.”

Countries under full restriction

(As per statements released by White House)

Countries under partial restriction

The proclamation also imposes partial restrictions on citizens from seven additional countries identified as posing elevated risks:

Why were these countries chosen?

The proclamation outlines various justifications for including these countries:

Exemptions for Olympics, World Cups

The travel ban will not apply to athletes participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, or the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, according to Trump’s order.