A new travel ban, restricting entry to the United States from citizens of 12 countries, went into effect on Monday, June 9th, 2025. The ban, announced last Wednesday by former President Donald Trump, impacts individuals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This action effectively bars citizens of these nations from entering the US, except under specific circumstances.
The White House cited national security concerns as the primary justification for the ban, claiming that these nations fail to adequately share information with the US government for evaluating terrorism and public safety risks. Additionally, the administration expressed concerns that individuals from these countries pose a significant risk of overstaying their visas. This echoes a similar measure implemented during Trump’s first term, which restricted entry from several Muslim-majority countries.
The ban, however, includes several exceptions. Individuals already holding valid US visas and currently residing within the country are unaffected. Similarly, those with green cards (permanent residency) or dual citizenship are exempt. Diplomats, athletes, coaches, and sports team members traveling to major events like the Olympics or World Cup are also excluded, along with Afghan nationals possessing special visas.
While the ban prohibits tourist (B-2), business (B-1), student (F, M), and cultural exchange/academic (J) visas for Cuban and Venezuelan citizens, the US embassies and consulates are ordered to “reduce the validity” of other non-immigrant visas for citizens of these countries, as permitted by law. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been given 90 days to submit a report to the former president, recommending whether to extend, terminate, modify, or supplement the restrictions.
The implementation of this travel ban has been met with varied reactions. Further information and analysis on the reactions from affected countries, as well as related news stories, can be found in the links provided below. The impact of this sweeping decision remains to be seen, but its ramifications on international relations and immigration policies are undeniably significant.
