'We Don't Want Them': Trump Imposes Full Travel Ban on Somalia and 11 Other Countries

by: Ali Yusuf | 05 June 2025 13:42

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'We Don't Want Them': Trump Imposes Full Travel Ban on Somalia and 11 Other Countries

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday reinstated a signature policy from his first term, announcing a sweeping travel ban targeting citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday reinstated a signature policy from his first term, announcing a sweeping travel ban targeting citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday reinstated a signature policy from his first term, announcing a sweeping travel ban targeting citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

The ban, officially published on White House website, is going to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. It also imposes heightened restrictions on visitors from seven additional nations.

According to the Associated Press, the measure is structured to avoid the airport chaos that erupted in 2017 when a similar ban was introduced with almost no warning.

This time, Trump appears to be on stronger legal footing, following a 2018 Supreme Court decision that upheld his authority to implement such restrictions.

The Full Ban

The new list of banned countries includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face enhanced screening and visa restrictions.

Trump defended the move by citing concerns over "deficient” vetting systems, a lack of cooperation from some governments in accepting deported citizens, and high visa overstay rates.

His administration relied heavily on a Department of Homeland Security report tracking visa overstays by tourists, students, and business travelers arriving by air or sea.

"We don’t want them,” Trump said bluntly.

Somalia Targeted

In his official proclamation, Trump claimed that Somalia lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documentation.

Trump asserted that Somalia’s government does not effectively control its territory, which, according to him, limits its ability to ensure national security.

"Somalia stands apart from other countries in the degree to which its government lacks command and control of its territory,” the proclamation reads.

The administration further argued that Somalia continues to harbor a persistent terrorist threat, stating that terrorist groups use Somali territory as a base for planning and launching attacks.

"The United States Government has identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven,” the statement continues. "Somalia also remains a destination for individuals attempting to join terrorist groups that threaten the national security of the United States.”

Trump’s order adds that the Somali government has historically refused to accept back its nationals who are ordered removed from the U.S.

PHOTO: Somalia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dahir Hassan.

As a result, the proclamation concludes:

"The entry into the United States of nationals of Somalia as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby fully suspended.”

In response, Somalia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dahir Hassan, told Reuters:

"Somalia values its enduring relationship with the U.S. and is ready to engage in meaningful dialogue to address concerns.”

The ambassador emphasized Somalia’s commitment to improving bilateral ties and addressing shared security challenges, signaling a diplomatic approach despite the newly imposed restrictions.