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A Summary of Trump’s 2025 Travel Ban

by | Jun 5, 2025 | Immigration, Travel Ban, Trump

Yesterday, the Trump Administration announced a new travel ban. It is yet another cruel and discriminatory immigration policy targeting people eligible for lawful pathways to the United States, many of whom are facing crisis-level instability in their home countries. Instead of offering protection, refuge, and opportunity, this proclamation imposes sweeping restrictions on those who often need help the most.

Just like the original “Muslim Ban” under Trump 1.0, this new proclamation is expected to face legal challenges for its broad and arbitrary treatment of entire national populations.

Key Provisions of the June 4, 2025 Travel Ban

On June 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”

It takes effect Monday, June 9, 2025, at 12:01 AM EDT.

It only applies to those outside the U.S. without a valid visa.

No visa issued before June 9, 2025 will be revoked under this proclamation.

Full Entry Ban for Nationals of 12 Countries

Immigrant and nonimmigrant entry is suspended for people from:

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

Partial Suspension of Entry for Nationals of 7 Countries 

The following countries face suspension of entry on the following nonimmigrant visas: B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J:

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

The administration has also put Egypt on notice for potential future suspension.

Who’s Not Affected

This proclamation does not apply to:

  • Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders)
  • Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (IR/CR)
  • Adoptees under IR/IH visas
  • Dual nationals using a passport from the non-banned country
  • Diplomatic and official visa holders (A, G, NATO)
  • Athletes in international competitions
  • Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holders
  • Special Immigrant Visa Holders for U.S. Government Employees
  • Individuals granted refugee status, asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT protection. Additionally, the ban does not limit individuals from applying for refugee status, asylum, withholding, or CAT.

Exceptions & Future Review

  • Case-by-case waivers are possible if travel is found to serve a critical U.S. interest, including testifying in criminal proceedings as a witness.
  • Within 90 days and every 180 days thereafter, the administration must review and justify the ongoing bans.

What Comes Next?

We know this proclamation will face court challenges, just as the Trump administration’s original Muslim Ban did. These types of broad, nationality-based bans often run afoul of legal and humanitarian principles—and we’ll be closely watching how this unfolds.

 

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