TRUMP REVIVES CONTROVERSIAL TRAVEL BAN , TARGETS 19 COUNTRIES

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order implementing a travel ban on nationals from 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns.

The order, signed Wednesday night, bans all travel to the United States by citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It also imposes partial restrictions on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, with some categories of temporary work visas from these countries still permitted.

According to the White House, the restrictions will come into effect on Monday, June 9.

President Trump said the decision was motivated in part by a recent attack at a Jewish protest in Colorado. Authorities claim the suspect, who allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower in the assault, was in the country illegally.

The move marks a revival of a policy similar to the travel restrictions enacted during Trump’s first term, widely referred to as the "Muslim ban" due to the number of Muslim majority countries affected.

The administration stated that the countries listed were selected based on security screening protocols and cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities. Critics, however, have raised concerns over potential discrimination and the impact on international relations.