US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order restricting citizens from 12 countries, including Libya, from entering the United States. The measure, announced in an official White House statement, cites national security risks and terrorism concerns as the primary reasons for the travel ban.
The statement explains that these nations “do not meet the required security standards” and pose a “significant threat” to the United States. Libya was highlighted due to the absence of a reliable civil documentation system and ongoing security issues. The White House stated: “There is no competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents in Libya. The historical terrorist presence within Libya’s territory amplifies the risks posed by the entry into the United States of its nationals.”
This travel restriction, part of an executive order signed on 20 January, mandates US agencies to assess whether certain countries’ citizens present a threat to US national interests. In addition to Libya, the order targets nationals from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Yemen.
The new directive includes exemptions for green card holders, those with valid visas, and individuals deemed to serve US national interests.
This marks a return to the controversial travel ban Trump introduced in 2017, which targeted several Muslim-majority countries. Despite legal challenges, it was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. The ban was revoked by former President Joe Biden in 2021, who described it as a “stain on our national conscience.”
The renewed restrictions are being presented as a response to security concerns following a recent attack against zionist protesters who are supporting the Israeli war on Gaza in Boulder, Colorado, which Trump referenced in a video message as proof of “grave risks” posed by unvetted foreign nationals.
