Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash

On June 5, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban affecting 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on seven others. The Administration has stated that the policy, set to take effect on June 9, 2025, is rooted in national security concerns, particularly the need for enhanced vetting of foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States. 

Before we explain the parameters of the travel ban, we want you to know which countries have been affected:

Full Travel Ban (12 countries):

• Afghanistan

• Burma (Myanmar)

• Chad

• Republic of the Congo

• Equatorial Guinea

• Eritrea

• Haiti

• Iran

• Libya

• Somalia

• Sudan

• Yemen

Partial Restrictions (7 countries):

• Burundi

• Cuba

• Laos

• Sierra Leone

• Togo

• Turkmenistan

• Venezuela

Are There Any Exemptions?

Exemptions to the ban include U.S. green card holders, dual nationals using non-banned passports, diplomats, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, and individuals involved in adoption or family-based visa cases. 

As the United States is set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028, there are also exemptions listed for professional athletes. 

Rationale Behind the Ban

The administration justifies the travel restrictions by citing national security concerns, particularly the need to prevent the entry of "terrorists" and individuals from countries with inadequate vetting systems. This move follows an executive order from January 2025 directing federal agencies to review and enhance screening procedures for foreign nationals. In explaining why each country was included, the Administration listed the percentage of its citizens that overstay their temporary visas. 

The decision also follows a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by an undocumented immigrant, which the administration cites as a catalyst for the new policy. 

Comparison to the 2017 Travel Ban

This new policy mirrors the controversial travel ban implemented during President Trump's first term. In January 2017, Executive Order 13769, titled "Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States," temporarily suspended entry from several predominantly Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The order faced widespread protests and legal challenges but was upheld by the Supreme Court in June 2018.

Although this new travel ban is very similar to the 2017 ban, it expands from the so-called ‘Muslim ban' to include countries with non-Muslim majorities. While we are very disappointed that a travel ban has been announced, the Trump Administration was previously expected to include 43 countries in the order, while this ban includes seventeen. 

As the policy takes effect, it is expected to spark ongoing debates about national security, immigration, and the United States' role in the global community. It is expected that there will be multiple lawsuits in federal courts about the legality of the ban, and we will inform you as new updates are announced. 

If you need assistance filing for an immigration petition, you can reach us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.