Trump Administration Issues New Travel Ban Targeting 12 Countries
On June 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation instituting a travel ban affecting nationals from 12 countries, a move the administration claims is necessary to fortify national security against potential threats from foreign terrorists. The travel ban is set to come into effect on June 9, 2025, at 11:01 AM EST.
The travel restrictions apply to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not possess a valid visa. The proclamation explicitly states that any immigrant or non-immigrant visa issued prior to this date will not be revoked under this new regulation.
Countries Subject to Full Travel Ban
The complete travel ban encompasses the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Countries Subject to Partial Travel Ban
In addition, a partial travel ban affects certain countries where entry is suspended for immigrants and specific temporary visa holders, namely those holding B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. The countries facing partial restrictions include:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Exceptions to the Travel Ban
There are several exceptions outlined in the proclamation. These include:
- Lawful permanent residents of the United States
- Dual nationals
- Diplomats traveling on valid non-immigrant visas
- Athletes and members of athletic teams, along with their immediate relatives, traveling for major sporting events such as the World Cup or Olympics
- Immediate family immigrant visas
- Adoption cases
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas
- Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. government employees
- Immigrant visas designated for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Potential Future Travel Restrictions
In March 2025, reports indicated that the Trump administration was evaluating travel restrictions on a list of 41 countries. Notably, 17 of the countries now included in the travel ban were also part of that preliminary assessment, while Burundi and Togo were newly added. Countries that were considered in the earlier list but are not currently affected include North Korea, Syria, South Sudan, Angola, and several others.
