Trump’s controversial travel ban takes effect amid protests and political unrest

Los Angeles. A sweeping travel ban imposed by US President Donald Trump came into force this week, barring citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States. The measure, which the Trump administration says is aimed at preventing the entry of “terrorists”, has reignited controversy and exacerbated political tensions nationwide.

Announced last week, the directive revives elements of earlier restrictions introduced during Trump’s first term—measures widely criticised for disproportionately targeting Muslim-majority nations. The new ban includes countries grappling with conflict and large-scale displacement: Afghanistan, Chad, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

In addition to the outright ban, increased visa scrutiny has been imposed on citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Despite the wide scope of the restrictions, no major disruptions were reported at Los Angeles International Airport in the immediate aftermath of implementation, according to the Associated Press.

National Guard deployed amid unrest

The enforcement of the ban coincided with rising unrest in Los Angeles, where protests erupted over recent immigration raids conducted by federal agents. Over the weekend, President Trump authorised the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops across Los Angeles County—bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom, who decried the move as an unconstitutional overreach.

Protesters flooded the streets, blocked major highways, and set vehicles ablaze. Security forces—including police and National Guard units—responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flashbang grenades in an effort to disperse the demonstrators. Early Monday, downtown Los Angeles was declared an “unlawful assembly” zone and ordered evacuated.

Governor Newsom has formally requested the withdrawal of federal troops, citing constitutional concerns and questioning the legality of the deployment. Legal analysts note that this is the first time since the 1960s civil rights protests—specifically in Alabama under President Lyndon B. Johnson—that a sitting president has activated a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent.

Justifications and criticism

President Trump has defended the travel ban, arguing that the affected countries were chosen due to their “inability to verify travellers’ identities”, high levels of visa overstays, and alleged links to terrorism. He pointed to a recent attack in Colorado, allegedly carried out by an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa, as justification—although Egypt is not among the countries included in the current ban.

Trump further warned that more countries could be added to the list “as threats emerge around the world”.

The move has drawn sharp condemnation from civil rights advocates, legal experts, and international bodies. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described the ban’s sweeping scope as “deeply troubling” and potentially in violation of international law.

Immigration advocacy groups in the United States have labelled the policy as discriminatory and politically motivated. Meanwhile, senior Trump allies have characterised the Los Angeles protests as an “insurrection”, and continue to frame rising migrant numbers as part of a broader “foreign invasion”.

Although the administration has stated that already-issued visas remain valid, legal observers have raised concerns over confusion at entry points—recalling the chaos that followed the original travel ban introduced in 2017.