President Trump Announces a Travel Ban for 19 Countries

 

The Trump administration has issued a travel ban that fully or partially restricts the entry of certain foreign nationals from nineteen countries, with limited exceptions. 

The travel ban takes effect on Monday, June 9, 2025.  It applies to foreign nationals who are outside of the United States and do not possess a valid visa before June 9, 2025.  According to the White House, the purpose of the travel ban is to protect the United States from terrorists and other national and public safety threats. 

The travel ban will fully restrict the entry of nationals from the following countries:

  • Afghanistan; 

  • Burma; 

  • Chad; 

  • Republic of the Congo; 

  • Equatorial Guinea; 

  • Eritrea; 

  • Haiti; 

  • Iran; 

  • Libya;

  • Somalia; 

  • Sudan; and

  • Yemen. 

The travel ban will partially restrict the entry of foreign nationals from the following countries: 

  • Burundi; 

  • Cuba;

  • Laos;

  • Sierra Leone;

  • Togo;

  • Turkmenistan; and

  • Venezuela. 

Foreign nationals from these seven countries who are not in possession of a valid immigrant visa or certain nonimmigrant visas (specifically, visitors  (B-1/B-2 visas), international students (F and M visas), or exchange visitor (J visas) issued before June 9, 2025, are not allowed to the enter the United States.  Consular officers also have been instructed to reduce the validity period of any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of these countries. 

If you are a foreign national of one of these countries and already have a valid visa issued before June 9, 2025, your visa will continue to be valid for international travel. You will not be subject to the travel ban.  However, you may face increased scrutiny when traveling back into the United States after international travel.  Please be prepared for delays at immigration inspections.  

Certain individuals are exempt from the travel ban:

  • Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders);

  • Dual nationals (if traveling on a passport from a non-designated country); 

  • Spouses, children (under 21), or parents of US citizens who are at least 21 years old;

  • Refugees, asylees and individuals granted Withholding of Removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture; 

  • Diplomats and NATO personnel on A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO‑2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 visas;

  • Any athlete, members of an athletic team, coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event;

  • Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders;

  • Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees;

  • Immigrant visa applicants who are ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran; and

  • Individuals whose entry is deemed in the national interest by the US Attorney General or Secretary of State.

Individuals covered by these exemptions are not subject to the travel ban and should be able to apply for visas and enter the United States. However, they may face additional screening, delays or obstacles in obtaining their visas.  

Given the way this Proclamation is written, legal experts believe that any challenges are unlikely to succeed. Therefore, it is expected that the Proclamation will take effect as planned.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. 

The alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further

 
Nadia Yakoob