The United States is set to ban entry to nationals from 12 countries starting Monday, according to an announcement made Wednesday by Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate and former president.
The measure marks a return to a controversial immigration policy first introduced during Trump’s initial term, officially aimed at “protecting the country.”
The ban targets citizens of Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These nations—many of which have Muslim-majority populations or are located in sub-Saharan Africa—are once again subject to entry restrictions that many observers have condemned as unfair and discriminatory.
A Measure Deemed Racist and in Violation of International Law
Tehran’s response was swift. Alireza Hashemi-Raja, head of affairs for Iranians abroad, condemned the decision, describing it as the product of a “supremacist and racist mindset dominating American policymakers.” He argued that the move reflects deep-seated hostility toward Iranians and Muslims more broadly.
Hashemi-Raja also criticized the measure as a breach of fundamental principles of international law, stressing that the ban “denies hundreds of millions of people the right to travel solely based on their nationality or religion.”
In 2020, Iran’s Foreign Ministry estimated that roughly 1.5 million Iranians were living in the United States. For many of them, the renewed restrictions could impact family ties, professional plans, or urgent travel needs.
A Decision with Global Ramifications
The move evokes memories of the infamous “Muslim Ban” introduced by Donald Trump in 2017.
Widely criticized at the time, the ban faced repeated legal challenges in U.S. courts before being revised.
Although the Biden administration rescinded it in 2021, Trump now appears determined to reinstate it amid a tense election campaign, tapping into national security fears and identity-based tensions.
Internationally, the announcement could inflame diplomatic tensions with several of the affected nations, some of which already have strained relations with Washington.
It also risks drawing criticism from human rights organizations and prompting legal challenges within the U.S. itself.
This renewed push for exclusionary policies under the pretext of national security is likely to fuel ongoing accusations of systemic discrimination within the Trump political platform.
In a global climate increasingly marked by identity-based tensions and polarized debates over immigration, such a decision may further isolate the United States on the international stage—while deepening domestic divisions.
Whether American courts or a future administration will once again overturn this policy remains to be seen.
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