Trump bans travel from 12 countries to the US

Human rights groups slam ‘downright cruel’ ban

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Human rights groups have criticsed the ban, with Amnesty International USA describing it as “discriminatory, racist, and downright cruel”.

“By targeting people based on their nationality, this ban only spreads disinformation and hate,” it wrote in a post on social media site X.

Human Rights First, also based in the US, condemned it as “yet another anti-immigrant and punitive action, external taken by President Trump”.

“The ban will harm refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations, including many who have been waiting to reunite with loved ones in our country,” said the organisation’s Senior Director of Refugee Advocacy Robyn Barnard in a statement.

“Bans do nothing to make our country secure, but rather undermine our national security and arbitrarily target those most in need of protection,” he said.

Travel, Biden and Harvard: Trump’s orders at a glance

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If you’re just joining us, here’s what to know:

A few hours ago, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning citizens of a dozen countries from travelling to the US.

• Starting on Monday, 9 June, citizens from 12 countries are set to be banned from travelling to the US: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen
• Another seven countries have come under a partial ban: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela
• In a video message, Trump cited the recent attack in Colorado as an example of foreign nationals entering the US without being “properly vetted”. The alleged attacker was an Egyptian national – but Egypt has been left out of the ban

• The travel ban has been met with dismay in the targeted countries. Venezuela has described the Trump administration as “supremacists who think they own the world”, while Somalia has pledged to “engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised”
• Despite its sweeping nature, the travel ban contains exemptions to some, such as immigrants who are “ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran” and athletes travelling for major sporting events
• And this is not the only big announcement from the White House today: Trump has also signed an executive order to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard University, and ordered an inquiry into what he says was a “conspiracy” to cover up former President Joe Biden’s cognitive health decline

We’ll continue to bring you the latest updates as we get them. Please stay with us.