Trump Administration Issues Travel Bans

On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, which restricts the ability of foreign nationals from nearly 20 countries to travel to the United States and/or be issued visas for travel purposes.

The travel ban takes effect Monday June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT.

Full Travel Ban: The ban will fully suspend entry to the United States, in both immigrant and all nonimmigrant classifications, for foreign nationals from the following countries:

Partial Travel Ban: The ban suspends entry to the United States for immigrant visa holders, as well as B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visa holders, and reduces the validity of other nonimmigrant visas for nationals of the following countries:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

Possible Future Suspension:

• Egypt: the proclamation asks the Attorney General, Department of Homeland Security Secretary and Director of National Intelligence to review conditions in Egypt due to recent circumstances.

The language of the proclamation states that it only applies to individuals who are outside the United States on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT and who are not in possession of a valid immigrant or nonimmigrant visa as of that date. No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before June 9, 2025, will be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.

Details of the Proclamation

Though styled as an entry ban under INA 212(f), the proclamation will likely affect both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants (i.e., consular posts may cancel existing appointments and prevent future appointment scheduling for the restricted nationalities or categories), as well as those who already have an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa and seek entry after the ban takes effect. As a result, all individuals from the affected countries should carefully consider any international travel while the ban is in effect, and consult with immigration counsel to discuss the potential risks involved.

The proclamation also does not impact the ability of individuals who are in the United States to seek changes of status to another nonimmigrant classification, adjustment to permanent resident status, or any other immigration benefit for which they are otherwise eligible.

Again, the scope of the proclamation is limited to the issuance of immigrant/nonimmigrant visas at U.S. embassies, and travel to the United States for certain foreign nationals who are abroad on or after June 9. The proclamation has carved out exceptions for the following, who are not covered/not impacted:

• Permanent Residents (presumably including immigrant visa holders already admitted to the United States);

• Dual nationals of a non-listed country (as long as the unaffected passport is presented);

• Those with the following visas: 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 and coaches participating in the World Cup, Olympics or other major sporting event;

• Immediate relative immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with “clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);”

• 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;

• Individuals granted asylum;

• Refugees admitted to the United States; and

• Individuals granted withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture.

The proclamation also leaves open the possibility for case-by-case “national interest” exceptions to the travel ban. The Attorney General and Secretary of State can make case-by-case exceptions if travel would advance a critical U.S. national interest, including to participate in criminal proceedings as a witness. As with prior bans, these exceptions may be made by a designee (presumably consular staff) and likely provided in very limited circumstances. The precise criteria and procedures governing these exceptions remain ambiguous, leaving the scope and consistency of their implementation open to interpretation.

Travel Ban will be Periodically Evaluated

Within 90 days of the proclamation and every 180 days thereafter, the Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State and the Director of National Intelligence are directed to submit a report recommending the continuation, termination, modification or supplementation of the suspensions, and thus these restrictions will be periodically re-evaluated. This will therefore be an ongoing and developing situation, and the Harris Beach Murtha immigration team will be monitoring these developments closely to provide further updates.