Keenan Ennis 
President Trump has announced in an official proclamation pursuant to Executive Order 14161, Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, that the United States will restrict the entry of nationals from a list of countries identified below to enhance national security and protect Americans.
U.S. Travel Ban 2025
Effective June 9, 2025 (at 12:01 a.m. EST), entry of individuals from these countries is fully restricted:
- Afghanistan
- Burma
- Chad
- The Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen.
Effective June 9, 2025, entry of individuals from these countries is partially restricted and limited:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela.
The proclamation does not apply to the following nationals:
- Lawful permanent residents of the U.S.;
- Individuals granted asylum to the U.S. or refugees already admitted
- Dual nationals of a country mentioned on the list when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a country not designated;
- Foreign nationals traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the 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;
- Athletes or members of an athletic team (coaches, people performing a 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 evidence of identity/ family relationship
- Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;
- Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees;
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
Shilpa Malik, managing attorney at VisaNation, stated:
“The reinstated travel ban is poised to cause significant disruption for families, students, and professionals from the affected countries. While exemptions exist for green card holders and valid visa holders, the broader implications include heightened scrutiny, delayed processing, and uncertainty.
We fully expect a wave of legal challenges in the months ahead, and it’s critical for impacted individuals to stay informed and seek legal counsel to navigate what will likely be a shifting legal landscape.”
Enhanced Vetting and Screening Across Agencies
The proclamation explicitly states that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence, will:
- Maximize Screening Procedures – All resources will be evaluated to ensure that those seeking entry into the United States are vetted as much as possible.
- Tighten Up Required Information for Entry – Officials will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine what information is needed from visa applicants to ensure they do not pose a threat to national security
- Restore Consistent Screening Standards – A uniform baseline for vetting procedures will be reinstated in line with those that existed on January 19, 2021
Within 60 days of the proclamation, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence will jointly submit a report to the President which identifies:
Countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)); and how many nationals from those countries have entered or have been admitted into the United States on or since January 20,2021, and any other information the Secretaries and Attorney General deem relevant to the actions or activities of such nationals since their admission or entry to the United States.
What’s Next?
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence will decide whether to continue, end or adjust the above restrictions in this proclamation after 90 days and then every 180 days thereafter.
To stay abreast of the latest developments, it’s best to have a qualified immigration attorney handle your case. To schedule a consultation with our legal team, contact us today!