United News of Bangladesh

The Trump administration on Tuesday expanded US travel restrictions to cover 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority, doubling the scope of sweeping limits announced earlier this year on who can travel to or immigrate to the United States. Under the new decision, five more countries have been added to the list facing a full ban on entry to the US, while 15 others will be subject to partial restrictions. People travelling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are also now fully barred. The measures are set to take effect on Jan 1. The administration said the move is part of broader efforts to tighten US travel and immigration standards, citing national security, immigration enforcement and foreign policy concerns. Officials pointed to problems such as corruption, unreliable civil documents, high visa overstay rates and refusals by some governments to accept deported nationals. Those exempted from the restrictions include lawful permanent US residents, people who already hold valid visas, diplomats, athletes and others whose entry is deemed to be in the US national interest. In June, President Donald Trump announced a ban on travellers from 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others, reviving a signature policy from his first term. Countries already under a full ban included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, while partial restrictions applied to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. The administration said the full ban list has now been expanded to include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. South Sudan had already been subject to significant travel limits. Partial restrictions have been imposed on Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The restrictions apply to both visitors and those seeking to immigrate to the US. The decision follows the arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House over the Thanksgiving weekend. In the aftermath, the administration announced a series of new immigration measures, including tougher rules for people from countries already under restrictions. Critics said the expanded ban unfairly targets people based on nationality rather than individual risk. Advocacy groups also warned that the updated policy no longer includes an exemption for Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas, which are granted to those who assisted US forces during the war in Afghanistan. Several governments affected by the new measures said they were seeking clarification from US officials. Dominica said it was treating the issue with urgency, while Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to Washington described the matter as serious. The administration also adjusted earlier restrictions, tightening rules for Laos and Sierra Leone while easing some limits on travellers from Turkmenistan. Other measures announced in June remain unchanged. The new restrictions on Palestinians expand earlier limits that had already made it difficult for holders of Palestinian Authority passports to travel to the US, and now also block them from immigrating. The administration said the decision was based on security concerns, citing the presence of US designated terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza and challenges in vetting amid ongoing conflict.  

Authorities intensified their search Monday for the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others in a shooting at Brown University, as concerns grew over campus security and how the attacker managed to flee. Police and federal agents went door to door in nearby neighborhoods, checking yards and asking residents for surveillance footage that could help identify the suspect. Investigators released new videos showing a masked man in a dark, two-tone jacket before and after Saturday’s attack, but his face remains obscured. The FBI described the suspect as about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build and announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. The search gained urgency after police acknowledged they had released a person of interest on Sunday, saying evidence no longer supported his involvement. The reversal raised public frustration and questions about whether the shift allowed the real suspect more time to escape. The shooting occurred in an auditorium-style classroom where students were studying for finals. Among those killed was Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore active in campus politics and church life, and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman who had overcome significant childhood health challenges after immigrating from Uzbekistan. As of Sunday, only one of the wounded had been released from the hospital. Several others remained in critical but stable condition, including students from outside Rhode Island. Brown lifted its lockdown, but unease lingered among students, parents and prospective applicants. Some nearby universities and Ivy League schools announced heightened security, particularly around religious events. Investigators said they are still working to trace the suspect’s movements and determine how he entered the classroom, noting limited camera coverage in the area. The attack, which unfolded during finals week, triggered hours of chaos on campus and renewed debate about safety at open university campuses.

A shooter dressed in black killed at least two people and wounded nine others at Brown University on Saturday afternoon during final exams, authorities said, prompting an extensive police search across the Ivy League campus. University President Christina Paxson said 10 of the shooting victims were students. Another person was injured by fragments from the gunfire. Officers searched academic buildings, backyards and porches late into the night for the suspect, described as a man in dark clothing who may have been wearing a camouflage mask. Security footage showed him leaving the Barus & Holley building, which houses the School of Engineering and physics department, though his face was not visible. Authorities believe the shooter used a handgun, but investigators have not determined how he entered the exam room, which requires badge access. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said all resources are being deployed to capture the suspect, while Providence Mayor Brett Smiley maintained a shelter-in-place advisory for residents near campus. Students described harrowing moments of fear and sheltering. Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, ran from the building after hearing gunfire. Others hid under desks or took refuge in nearby businesses. Students were evacuated hours later under police supervision. Nine victims were hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital, with one in critical condition and six others receiving intensive care. The shooting occurred despite Rhode Island’s strict gun laws, including an assault weapon ban passed last spring that restricts sales and manufacturing starting next July but does not prohibit possession. Former “Survivor” contestant Eva Erickson, a doctoral candidate, had left the building minutes before the attack. President Donald Trump expressed condolences, saying he had been briefed and urged prayers for the victims. Authorities continue to search for the suspect, emphasizing public safety and ongoing investigation efforts.

President Donald Trump has been sued by preservationists seeking to halt his White House ballroom project until it undergoes independent reviews and receives congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court, arguing that the project, which involved demolishing the East Wing, violates federal laws and exceeds the president’s constitutional authority. The group is demanding comprehensive design reviews, environmental assessments, public input, and debate and ratification by Congress before construction continues. “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review, or build a ballroom on public property without public input,” the lawsuit said. The Trust added that work should stop until all required reviews and approvals are completed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not respond immediately to questions about the lawsuit or whether Trump plans to seek congressional approval. Trump has said the project is privately funded, including his own money, but federal rules still apply because the White House is government property. Trump has argued that a new ballroom is necessary, as large events often require outdoor tents due to the limited capacity of existing rooms. The White House is expected to submit detailed plans for the ballroom to the National Capital Planning Commission before the end of the year, three months after construction began. Will Scharf, chairman of the commission, said the panel will review the plans at a “normal and deliberative pace” once submitted, marking the start of the official review process.  

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States had seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a rare military intervention amid escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. Video shared by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi showed Coast Guard personnel fast-roping from a helicopter onto the ship, later moving through the vessel with weapons drawn. The tanker, identified as the Skipper, carried about 2 million barrels of heavy crude, roughly half owned by a Cuban state-run oil importer. The vessel, previously known as M/T Adisa, had been sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for involvement in a shadow tanker network supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The seizure was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority with Coast Guard support from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, currently in the Caribbean. Trump described the tanker as the largest ever seized and said it was taken “for a very good reason,” though he provided no further details about the oil’s fate. Venezuelan authorities condemned the move as “blatant theft” and international piracy, claiming it targeted the country’s natural resources. The seizure follows a series of U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, as the administration builds a large military presence in the region. Critics, including some Democrats, argue these actions are part of a push for regime change rather than drug interdiction. Senator Chris Van Hollen described the seizure as evidence that the U.S. is seeking to remove Maduro by force. Analysts say the action could disrupt Venezuelan maritime commerce, potentially affecting the country’s oil-dependent economy. Maduro, speaking at a Caracas rally, did not address the seizure directly but warned that Venezuela is prepared to resist U.S. aggression. The U.S. military also flew fighter jets near Venezuelan airspace Tuesday, raising further concern over potential escalation. Lawmakers have demanded unedited footage of prior strikes, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said is still under review.

President Donald Trump has introduced a new “Gold Card” visa programme that offers wealthy foreigners a fast-track route to US residency and eventual citizenship in exchange for a minimum payment of $1 million. Announcing the launch on Wednesday, Trump said the card would give qualified and vetted applicants a “direct path to citizenship,” adding that it would help American companies retain “invaluable talent.” According to the scheme’s official website, the Trump Gold Card is intended for individuals who can show they will provide a “substantial benefit” to the United States. The rollout comes as Washington steps up its broader immigration crackdown, including higher work visa fees and increased deportations of undocumented migrants. The programme promises residency “in record time,” with the $1 million fee serving as proof of an applicant’s economic value. Companies sponsoring foreign workers must pay $2 million plus additional charges. A premium “platinum” card offering tax breaks will cost $5 million. Applicants must also pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee before their application is reviewed. Additional government fees may apply based on individual circumstances. The Gold Card website features the slogan “Unlock life in America,” alongside an image of the card bearing Trump’s photo. The plan has drawn criticism since it was first announced in February, with Democrats arguing it favours the wealthy. Trump has compared the card to a green card but said it is aimed at “high-level” professionals. “The people who can pay $5 million will create jobs,” Trump said. “It’s going to sell like crazy.” The launch comes as the Trump administration expands enforcement measures, halting immigration applications from 19 countries under the travel ban and freezing all decisions on asylum cases approved during the Biden administration. In September, Trump ordered a $100,000 fee for new overseas H-1B visa applicants, sparking concern among foreign students and tech companies. The White House later clarified the fee applies only to new applicants outside the US.   With inputs from BBC

President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement is taking a heavy toll on U.S. child care workers, particularly in communities with large immigrant populations, according to preschool staff and administrators. At CentroNía, a bilingual preschool in a historically Latino neighborhood, teachers have altered daily routines out of fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Staff have stopped taking children on walks, visits to libraries, and playgrounds, and the school canceled its Hispanic Heritage Month parade to avoid drawing attention. “These concerns dominate all of our decision-making,” said CEO Myrna Peralta. Instead, children are pushed around hallways in strollers, and a classroom was converted into a miniature library after ending a local library partnership. The child care sector relies heavily on immigrants, who make up roughly one-fifth of the workforce nationwide, and up to 40% in major cities like Washington, D.C., New York, and California. Many are better educated than U.S.-born staff and support programs such as Spanish-language immersion preschools. Most immigrant workers have legal status and work authorization. Trump’s policies, including ending Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, have forced many workers out of their jobs or the country. Schools report losing teachers, while those who remain face heightened anxiety. Some staff have experienced panic attacks during work hours, and mental health consultants are being deployed to support teachers. Incidents involving ICE have also affected children. At a Montessori school in Portland, Oregon, a failed ICE arrest of a parent caused a school lockdown, triggering emotional distress among students, including increased outbursts and withdrawal. Administrators warn that the growing fear among staff is spilling over to children, potentially affecting the quality of care and learning. “If the teachers aren’t good, the kids won’t be good either,” said site director Joangelee Hernández-Figueroa, highlighting the broader impact of immigration enforcement on early education.  

Thousands of refugees around the world have been unable to enter the United States due to new policies under President Donald Trump. Many had prepared for their move, sold belongings, and secured travel documents before the program was suspended. Trump restarted the refugee program in October but set the lowest limit ever of 7,500 people, mostly from South Africa. Additional restrictions were introduced after a security incident involving an Afghan national. The administration cited economic and security concerns for the changes. About 600,000 refugees were in process when the program was halted. Only a small number have been admitted since, largely due to court actions seeking to restore the program. Advocates warn that many families remain stranded. Some refugees have waited for years. The Dawood family fled Syria and settled in Iraq, hoping to reunite in the U.S. for better medical care for their daughter. Only two children reached Connecticut in November 2024, while the parents and other siblings remain in Irbil, unable to work or travel. Chinese pastor Lu Taizhi has lived in Thailand for over a decade, seeking safety from persecution. Despite being approved for resettlement in the U.S., multiple flights were canceled after Trump took office. Lu now lives apart from his family and earns a living teaching and preaching. In East Africa, refugee Louis arrived in the U.S. in 2024, but his wife and two young children remain in a camp in Uganda due to policy freezes. Separation has caused emotional strain on both Louis and his family, who worry about growing apart over time. Refugee advocates stress that Trump’s policies have left many vulnerable families in legal limbo, delaying reunions and access to safety in the United States.  

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s order denying birthright citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or on temporary status. The justices will hear Trump’s appeal of a lower-court decision that struck down the policy. The order has not taken effect anywhere in the nation. The case is scheduled for arguments in the spring, with a ruling expected by early summer. Trump signed the birthright citizenship directive on Jan. 20, the start of his second term, as part of a broader Republican-led push to tighten immigration enforcement. Other measures include ramped-up enforcement operations in several major cities and the first use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act during peacetime. The administration faces numerous legal challenges, and the Supreme Court has delivered mixed rulings on related issues. The justices temporarily blocked use of the Alien Enemies Act for fast-tracking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, yet allowed immigration sweeps to resume in the Los Angeles area after a lower court halted them over profiling concerns. The Court is also reviewing the administration’s emergency request to deploy National Guard units in the Chicago area for immigration operations — a move currently frozen by a lower court. This is the first of Trump’s immigration policies to reach the Supreme Court for a final decision. The directive challenges more than a century of interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which has long been understood to guarantee citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil, except for children of foreign diplomats or occupying forces. Several lower courts have struck down the order as unconstitutional — or likely unconstitutional — even after the Supreme Court limited the use of nationwide injunctions earlier this year. However, the Court left open the possibility of nationwide relief through class actions or state-led suits. Each lower court considering the issue has ruled that Trump’s directive violates the 14th Amendment, which was enacted to guarantee U.S. citizenship to Black Americans, including formerly enslaved people. Under long-standing practice, anyone born in the United States — including children of undocumented mothers — is automatically a U.S. citizen. The case now before the Court originated in New Hampshire, where a federal judge in July blocked the order in a class-action suit covering all affected children. The American Civil Liberties Union is representing the children and families challenging the policy. “No president can rewrite the 14th Amendment’s core guarantee of citizenship,” said Cecillia Wang, national legal director of the ACLU. “We look forward to resolving this issue definitively at the Supreme Court.” The administration also asked the justices to review a July ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that Democratic-led states challenging the policy needed a nationwide injunction to avoid a patchwork of citizenship rules. The Supreme Court did not act on the 9th Circuit case. The administration argues that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and therefore do not qualify for citizenship. “The Citizenship Clause was intended to secure citizenship for newly freed slaves — not for children of individuals in the U.S. illegally or temporarily,” Trump’s solicitor general, D. John Sauer, wrote in urging Supreme Court review. Twenty-four Republican-led states and 27 GOP lawmakers, including Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, are supporting the administration’s position.

President Donald Trump’s latest remarks targeting Somali immigrants sparked outrage and anxiety Wednesday in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, home to the largest Somali community in the United States. Speaking first during a Tuesday Cabinet meeting, Trump said Somalis “contribute nothing” and described them as “garbage,” adding that accepting them would send the country “the wrong way.” He intensified the criticism on Wednesday, telling reporters at an Oval Office event that “Somalians should be out of here” and that they had “destroyed our country.” He also took aim at Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, calling him a “fool,” and said he would not be “proud to have the largest Somali population” in the U.S. Hamse Warfa, a Minnesota-based Somali-born entrepreneur and head of the education nonprofit World Savvy, rejected the president’s remarks. “I am not garbage. I’m a proud American citizen,” Warfa said, noting that anti-immigrant rhetoric has repeatedly been used for political gain, pointing to past comments Trump made about Haitian migrants ahead of the 2024 election. The Twin Cities region is home to roughly 84,000 people of Somali descent — nearly one-third of the U.S. Somali population. Refugees from the East African nation have been settling in Minnesota since the 1990s, drawn by social support services and the growing diaspora community. Trump’s comments came amid reports that federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration enforcement action in Minnesota focused on Somalis living illegally in the country, according to a person familiar with the preparations. Most Somalis in the state, however, are U.S. citizens, including many born in America. Some community leaders said they heard anecdotal accounts of detentions by federal agents, though they lacked details. Immigration officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Somalis have become an integral part of Minnesota’s civic and political landscape, contributing to local economies, opening businesses and serving in the Legislature and on city councils. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, frequently singled out by Trump — including this week, when he called her “garbage” — represents Minnesota in Congress. The community has also faced scrutiny following the arrests of dozens of people, many of them Somalis, accused of involvement in fraud schemes targeting social service agencies. While Trump has repeatedly claimed Minnesota is “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and suggested money may have flowed to the extremist group al-Shabab, federal authorities have not charged any defendants with terrorism-related offenses, and evidence of such links remains scant. Trump’s latest remarks followed his administration’s decision to halt all asylum rulings after two National Guard soldiers were shot dead in Washington. Although the suspect is of Afghan origin, Trump questioned immigrants from other countries, including Somalia. The administration also paused immigration applications for people from 19 countries — among them Somalia — that had been under previous U.S. travel bans. Minnesota leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, pledged to support Somali residents. “Minneapolis is — and will remain — a city that stands up for our residents,” Frey said in a statement. Several Democratic legislators and Minneapolis City Council members held a news conference Wednesday urging Republican lawmakers to condemn Trump’s comments. “Where are the Republicans now?” asked state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis, who said she had invited GOP leaders to attend the briefing. Warfa said he hopes the political rhetoric recedes soon, especially as his daughter, a high school senior, prepares for college. “I would rather spend time thinking about her future,” he said, instead of hearing the president describe people like him “as garbage.”