DULLES, Va. (7News) — A controversial new travel ban signed by President Donald Trump officially goes into effect Monday morning, blocking citizens from more than a dozen countries from entering the United States.
The White House said the move is intended to strengthen national security, but critics are already calling it discriminatory — and are preparing legal challenges.
The sweeping executive order targets travelers from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition, the order partially restricts entry for citizens of seven other nations, including Cuba, Venezuela, Laos, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Togo, and Turkmenistan.
The administration cites concerns about terrorism, unreliable identity verification systems, poor data sharing with U.S. agencies, and high visa overstay rates as justification for the policy.
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While the ban primarily affects inbound travelers seeking to enter the U.S., there may be indirect effects on outbound flights from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), particularly for travelers with connections through banned countries.
United Airlines, a major carrier at Dulles, has already suspended several international routes, citing unrelated operational challenges, such as aircraft availability and fleet constraints, not the travel ban directly. Still, the timing has added to the confusion and disruption for travelers.
Not everyone from the listed countries is banned from entering the United States. The executive order includes several key exemptions:
- Dual citizens of non-restricted countries
- U.S. green cardholders (lawful permanent residents)
- Afghan nationals holding Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
- Immigrant visa holders from Iran who are part of ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution
- Athletes and officials traveling to the U.S. for major global events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics
The response from the international community has been swift. Chad’s president, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, announced that his government will halt the issuance of visas to American citizens in retaliation. Other affected countries have expressed concern over the economic and humanitarian impact of the policy. Critics, including civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers, argue the measure mirrors Trump’s 2017 travel ban targeting Muslim-majority nations.
That earlier ban was partially struck down in court before being upheld in a revised version by the U.S. Supreme Court.
