Somali and Sudanese refugees residing in Kenya will face a tough challenge seeking asylum in the United States after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that bans individuals from 12 countries from entering the US.

The announcement made on Wednesday, June 4, comes as the US continues to seek means to stop what it terms as ‘unlawful’ migration to the land of dreams.

The Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Chad are all prohibited from travel.

Additionally, the measure restricts entry to a certain extent for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump during US Campaigns, April 7, 2024.

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POTUS

"We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm," Trump said in a video posted on X.

It is unclear how the ban will impact people from those countries living in other states, like the refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp. However, this ban is a setback for many trying to escape the difficulties in their war-torn nations.

For instance, in 2023, about 803 people from Somalia applied for asylum in the United States. Of these, around 7.3 per cent received positive outcomes, while 127 applications were denied, and the rest were still waiting for decisions.

This number is only a small part of the more than 370,000 Somali refugees living in Kenya.

Kenya is not off the hook yet, as Trump insists the list could be revised and new countries could be added. Some US senators have been on a warpath with Kenya, pointing to the growing dalliance with China as a problem.

The voices, largely from the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, have called for a reassessment of the relationship between Kenya and the US.

“Just last month, President Ruto declared that Kenya, a major non-NATO ally, and China are co-architects of a new world order.” That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance,” the statement read in part.

“I submit for the record the text of that speech. Relying on leaders who embrace Beijing so openly is an error. It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China," the statement continued.

The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025. Visas issued before that date will not be revoked, Trump’s order said.

Teams competing in the Olympics or the World Cup, as well as individuals who are lawful permanent residents of the US, will not be impacted by the ban.

US President Donald Trump signing an Executive Order in the Oval Office, January 20, 2025.

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White House