U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping proclamation on Wednesday barring entry to citizens from 12 countries, citing concerns over terrorism and national security. The measure, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on June 9, is the latest in a series of immigration crackdowns initiated during Trump’s second term in office.

The directive affects nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, entry from seven other nations — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — will be partially restricted.

“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video message posted on social media platform X. He emphasized that the list of restricted countries could be updated in the future.

The new ban follows a series of hardline immigration measures, including the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of gang involvement and stricter visa scrutiny for foreign students. Trump cited Sunday’s gasoline bomb attack at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, as a justification for heightened security measures. The suspect, an Egyptian national, had overstayed his visa — although Egypt was not among the countries listed in the new proclamation.

The African Union Commission voiced concern over the directive on Thursday, warning of its potential to damage educational, commercial, and diplomatic ties. “The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the U.S. administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach,” it said in a statement.

During his first term (2017–2021), Trump issued a controversial ban on travelers from several Muslim-majority countries — a policy upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. President Joe Biden reversed that policy in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.”

In Wednesday’s announcement, Trump argued that the countries facing the most stringent restrictions were those deemed to have a “large-scale presence of terrorists,” poor cooperation on visa security, inadequate identity verification systems, or high rates of visa overstays.

“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said.

The announcement triggered swift responses from around the globe. Somalia’s ambassador to the U.S., Dahir Hassan Abdi, pledged to work with Washington to address security concerns, saying Somalia “values its longstanding relationship” with the United States.

In contrast, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello condemned the move, calling the U.S. government “fascist” and warning that being in the U.S. is “a big risk for anybody, not just for Venezuelans.”

Other nations have yet to officially respond. Afghanistan’s Taliban-led foreign ministry and Myanmar’s military government did not immediately comment. Meanwhile, uncertainty looms for individuals affected by the ban.

The new proclamation builds on Trump’s earlier executive order issued on January 20, mandating intensified security screening for foreign nationals. The administration has signaled it will continue to expand its immigration restrictions in the name of national security as Trump seeks to solidify his legacy on border control during his second term.