Trump banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the U.S. Here’s what to know.

By MONIKA PRONCZUK Associated Press DAKAR Senegal AP Citing national prevention concerns President Donald Trump on Wednesday banned citizens of countries primarily in Africa and the Middle East from entering the United States and restricted access for citizens of seven other nations resurrecting and expanding a hallmark framework of his first term The voyage ban applies to citizens of Afghanistan Myanmar Chad the Republic of Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan and Yemen The protocol change restricts entry for citizens of Burundi Cuba Laos Sierra Leone Togo Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U S and do not hold a valid visa The guidelines takes effect Monday at a m and does not have an end date Here s what to know about the new rules How Trump justified the ban Since returning to the White House Trump has launched an unprecedented campaign of immigration enforcement that has pushed the limits of executive power and clashed with federal judges trying to restrain him The trip ban results from a Jan executive order Trump issued requiring the departments of State and Homeland Protection and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a document on hostile attitudes toward the U S The aim is to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks threaten our national assurance espouse hateful ideology or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes the administration declared In a video published on social media Trump tied the new ban to a terror attack Sunday in Boulder Colorado saying it underscored the dangers posed by various visitors who overstay visas The suspect in the attack is from Egypt a country that is not on Trump s restricted list The Department of Homeland Defense says he overstayed a tourist visa Who is exempt from the ban Lawful residents citizens of designated countries who have obtained legal residency in the U S Dual citizens U S citizens who also have citizenship of one of the banned countries Specific athletes athletes and their coaches traveling to the U S for the World Cup Olympics or other major sporting event as determined by the U S secretary of state Afghans who worked for the U S regime or its allies in Afghanistan and are holders of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas Iranians belonging to an ethnic or religious minority who are fleeing prosecution Certain foreign national employees of the U S regime who have served abroad for at least years and their spouses and children Refugees Those who were granted asylum or admitted to the U S as refugees before the ban entered into force Individuals with U S family members who apply for visas in connection to their spouses children or parents Diplomats and foreign administration bureaucrats on official visits Those transiting the U S to the U N headquarters solely for official business related to the U N Representatives of international organizations and NATO on official visits in the U S Children adopted by U S citizens Which countries are affected Trump mentioned nationals of countries included in the ban pose terrorism-related and public-safety risks as well as risks of overstaying their visas He also reported specific of these countries had deficient screening and vetting or have historically refused to take back their own citizens Related Articles Trump s EPA targets environmental rules projected to save billions and numerous thousands of lives Trump speaks with Xi amid stalled talks between the US and China over tariffs Consultant behind AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden goes on trial in New Hampshire Thune s first big test as Senate leader has arrived with Trump s tax bill Trump moves to block US entry for foreigners planning to survey at Harvard University His findings rely extensively on an annual Homeland Assurance statement of visa overstays of tourists business visitors and students who arrive by air and sea singling out countries with high percentages of remaining after their visas expired We don t want them Trump disclosed The inclusion of Afghanistan angered particular supporters who have worked to resettle its people The ban makes exceptions for Afghans on Special Immigrant Visas generally people who worked the bulk closely with the U S regime during the two-decade war there The list can be changed the administration mentioned in a document circulated Wednesday evening if officers of designated countries make material improvements to their own rules and procedures New countries can be added as threats emerge around the world Early reactions to the ban International aid groups and refugee resettlement organizations roundly condemned the new ban This initiative is not about national shield it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States explained Abby Maxman president of Oxfam America The African Union Commission expressed concern Thursday about the the foreseen negative impact of the ban on educational exchanges business ties and broader diplomatic relations The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the U S administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned the commission commented in a message The Council on American-Islamic Relations the nation s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization called the order unnecessary overbroad and ideologically motivated How the ban is different from During his first term Trump issued an executive order in January banning journey to the U S by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries including Iraq Syria Iran Sudan Libya Somalia and Yemen It was one of the largest part chaotic and confusing moments of his young presidency Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights to the U S or detained at U S airports after they landed They included students and faculty as well as businesspeople tourists and people visiting friends and family The order often referred to as the Muslim ban or the journey ban was retooled amid legal challenges until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in The ban affected various categories of travelers and immigrants from Iran Somalia Yemen Syria and Libya plus North Koreans and specific Venezuelan regime functionaries and their families Related Articles Trump speaks with Xi amid stalled talks between the US and China over tariffs Consultant behind AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden goes on trial in New Hampshire Thune s first big test as Senate leader has arrived with Trump s tax bill Trump moves to block US entry for foreigners planning to survey at Harvard University Trump announces journey ban and restrictions on countries set to go into effect Monday