Trump Administration's 2025 Travel Ban

 

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation titled "Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats." This executive order imposes new travel restrictions on nationals from 19 countries, citing national security concerns and inadequate information-sharing practices.

Full Travel Ban: 12 Countries

Effective June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the U.S. will fully suspend the entry of both immigrants and nonimmigrants from the following 12 countries:

• Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen

Partial Restrictions: 7 Countries

Nationals from the following seven countries will face heightened restrictions, which may include limitations on specific visa categories or increased scrutiny during the visa application process:

• Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela

According to the White House proclamation, these partial restrictions generally include:

• Suspension or limitation of certain nonimmigrant visas, such as tourist (B-1/B-2), student (F, J), or temporary work (H, L) categories.

• Enhanced vetting and increased documentation requirements during visa application and border inspection.

• Visa issuance delays or denials for applicants deemed security or public safety risks.

• In the case of Venezuela, government officials and their families face specific restrictions, while ordinary citizens may be less impacted.

These partial restrictions are also set to take effect on June 9, 2025. 

Exceptions and Exemptions

The proclamation outlines several exemptions to the travel restrictions, including:

• U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders)

• Individuals with valid visas issued before June 9, 2025

• Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country

• Individuals with close immediately family ties in the U.S.

• Select athletes and coaches participating in major international sporting events

• Refugees who have already been granted asylum

• Afghan allies of the United States

• Persecuted religious minorities from Iran

The Trump administration justifies the travel restrictions as necessary measures to protect U.S. citizens from potential terrorist threats and to ensure the integrity of the nation's immigration system. The administration also cited a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by an Egyptian immigrant, as evidence of the dangers posed by inadequately vetted entrants and visa overstays.  It is noteworthy that Egypt is not among the banned countries.

Implementation Timeline

The travel restrictions are scheduled to go into effect on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Visas issued before this date will remain valid, and individuals already present in the United States will not be affected by the new restrictions.  Legal challenges to the travel ban are expected. However, as of now, foreign nationals should plan their entry to the U.S. and international travel carefully in light of these changes.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)