Trump Reinstates Travel Ban Targeting Countries With Severe Religious Freedom Violations

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation this week reinstating travel restrictions on citizens from 12 countries, with Afghanistan, Haiti and the Republic of Congo among those facing complete entry bans. The 12 "full ban" countries are: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Religious Persecution Connection Highlighted

Religious freedom advocates have noted that several countries on the list are among the world's worst violators of religious liberty. An executive order announced this week introduced near-total restrictions on travel to the U.S. by citizens of 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, and Myanmar — countries widely recognized as among the most violent violators of religious freedom.

Countries of Particular Concern

Many of the banned nations have been designated as "Countries of Particular Concern" by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The commission recommends maintaining 10 countries currently on the State Department list, including China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Afghanistan's Deteriorating Religious Climate

Afghanistan has faced particular scrutiny since the Taliban takeover. The Hazara people are not only discriminated against on the basis of their religious beliefs but also face ethnic persecution, according to Human Rights Watch. Religious minorities have faced harassment, detention, and even death due to their faith or beliefs, and years of progress toward more equitable access to education and representation of women and girls have disappeared.

Security Rationale Cited

Trump said the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats. The White House emphasized national security concerns in justifying the renewed restrictions, which also include partial bans on seven additional countries.

Revival of First-Term Policy

The Supreme Court upheld the third version of Trump's travel ban that was issued in 2017. It restricted entry in varying degrees from Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela. President Joe Biden ultimately repealed it when he took office in 2021.

Impact on Religious Minorities

Christian persecution monitoring organizations have expressed concern that the travel restrictions may inadvertently harm religious minorities fleeing persecution in these countries. Many of the affected nations have documented histories of systematic religious oppression, making it difficult for persecuted believers to seek refuge elsewhere.

The proclamation takes effect immediately and represents a significant return to one of the most controversial immigration policies of Trump's first presidency.