Image Source – News18
On June 4, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reinstating and broadening a polarizing travel ban and travel restriction on entry from 19 countries to the U.S. The order mirrors policies from his first time in office, and is being justified in the interest of national security and immigration.
Full Entry Ban for 12 Nations
The new policy enforces a total entry ban on nationals from the following 12 countries:
- Afghanistan
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
These nations, according to the proclamation, have failed to meet the required standards for identity verification, information-sharing, or have concerning security risks.
Partial Restrictions on 7 Countries
An additional seven countries face partial restrictions, primarily affecting specific nonimmigrant visa categories such as business (B-1), tourist (B-2), student (F and M), and exchange (J) visas:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
These nations are said to have high rates of visa overstays or inadequate cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.
Justification Behind the Ban
The Trump administration has prominently cited national security as the root cause of the expanded ban. Officials stressed that the countries on the list either were purportedly associated with a high risk of terrorism, had inadequate identity-management practices or didn’t adequately share intelligence with the United States.
The announcement also came on the heels of a violent incident in Boulder, Colorado purportedly committed by an Egyptian national with an expired visa. Although Egypt was not on the list of excluded countries, the attack stirred up the discourse for tighter control and an expansion of immigration policies.
Exemptions and International Responses
The proclamation contains exceptions for green card holders, dual nationals when utilizing a non-listed passport, diplomats and certain participants in international events such as the Olympics or World Cup.
Critics stated the actions disproportionately discriminate against predominantly-Muslim and developing countries and risk halting family reunification, humanitarian travel and international relations. Advocacy groups and legal organizations are reportedly preparing appropriate challenges in court.
Since the order will take effect on June 9, 2025, it remains to be seen how this re-activation of the order of policy will affect the diplomatic relations and settlement patterns of immigration.
