June 06, 2025
President Trump Enacts “Travel Ban” for Citizens of Twelve Countries Plus Travel Restrictions for Seven Additional Countries
President Trump signed a proclamation on June 4, 2025, enacting full suspension of entry to the U.S. for citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar/Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The rationale behind each travel suspension is provided in the presidential proclamation and outlined below.
Afghanistan: State sponsor of a terrorist group, the Taliban. Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.
Myanmar/Burma: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories. Additionally, Myanmar (Burma) has not cooperated with the US to accept back their removable nationals.
Chad: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Republic of the Congo: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Equatorial Guinea: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Eritrea: Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents. Criminal records are not available to the US. Refusal to accept back its removable nationals. High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Haiti: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories. High illegal immigration rate into the US. Lack of central authority with sufficient availability and dissemination of law enforcement information necessary to ensure its nationals do not undermine the national security of the US.
Iran: State sponsor of terrorism. Fails to cooperate with the US Government in identifying risks. Historically, has failed to accept back its removable nationals.
Libya: Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents. Historical terrorist presence in Libya amplifies the risks posed by the entry in the US of its nationals.
Somalia: Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. Somalia lacks command and control of its territory. A persistent terrorist threat and possible terrorist safe haven. Historically, has failed to accept back its removable nationals.
Sudan: Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Yemen: Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. The government does not have control of its own territory and has been the site of US Military operations since January 20, 2025.
Additionally, the proclamation also listed partial travel restrictions to seven additional countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Under the proclamation, restrictions vary from country to country.
Burundi: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Restriction: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
Cuba: State sponsor of terrorism. Does not cooperate or share sufficient law enforcement information with the US. Historically, has refused to accept back its removable nationals. High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Restrictions: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
Laos: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories. Historically, has failed to accept back its removable nationals.
Restriction: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
Sierra Leone: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories. Historically, has failed to accept back its removable nationals.
Restriction: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
Togo: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Restriction: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
Turkmenistan: High rate of visa overstays in the B1, B2, F, M, and J categories.
Restriction: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
Venezuela: Lacks competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. Historically, has refused to accept back its removable nationals. High rate of visa overstays in the B1 and/or B2 categories. Restriction: Entry in the US on immigrant visas and nonimmigrants on B1, B2, F, M, and J visas. All other nonimmigrant visas shall be reduced to the extent permitted by law.
The new travel ban will be effective for all those outside the US on June 9, 2025. No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before June 9, 2025 will be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.
The travel ban will not apply to: any lawful permanent resident of the United States; any dual national of a country designated under sections 2 and 3 of this proclamation when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a country not so designated; any foreign national traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications: 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; any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State; immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA); adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4); Afghan Special Immigrant Visas; Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees; and immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
The Attorney General and Secretary of State can make case-by-case exceptions if travel would advance a critical US national interest, including to participate in criminal proceedings as a witness. As with prior bans, these exceptions may be made by a designee (presumably consular staff) and likely provided in very limited circumstances. The precise criteria and procedures governing these exceptions remain ambiguous, leaving the scope and their consistency of implementation open to interpretation.
Within 90 days of the proclamation and every 180 days thereafter, the Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and Director of National Intelligence shall submit a report recommending the continuation, termination, modification, or supplementation of the suspensions.