Trump Issues Sweeping Travel Ban Affecting 19 Countries

Trump's sweeping travel ban impacts citizens from 12 countries, with further restrictions on 7 more. The White House announced the measure late Wednesday, effective June 9th, citing national security concerns. The ban includes Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iran, while Cuba and Venezuela face partial restrictions. "The president has made it clear that this is a matter of national security," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement. The decision has sparked immediate controversy, with critics arguing it is discriminatory and ineffective. The long-term impact of this ban remains to be seen, but its immediate effect is to significantly limit travel to the United States for citizens of the affected nations.