On June 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reinstating and expanding a travel ban that restricts entry into the United States for citizens of 12 countries, with additional partial restrictions on seven others. The policy, set to take effect on Monday, June 9, marks a significant revival of one of the most controversial measures from Trump’s first term.en.wikipedia.org+6apnews.com+6indiatimes.com+6
Countries Affected
Full Travel Ban: Citizens from the following 12 countries are barred from entering the U.S.:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemenaljazeera.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8apnews.com+8wsj.com+12aljazeera.com+12indiatimes.com+12aljazeera.com+8wsj.com+8apnews.com+8en.wikipedia.org+15apnews.com+15apnews.com+15en.wikipedia.org+7axios.com+7thedailybeast.com+7wsj.com+7apnews.com+7axios.com+7
Partial Restrictions: Citizens from these seven countries face limited travel options, primarily affecting immigrant, tourist, and student visas:reuters.com+7wsj.com+7aljazeera.com+7
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuelaindiatimes.comen.wikipedia.org+9abcnews.go.com+9apnews.com+9
The administration cited national security concerns, including inadequate identity verification systems and high visa overstay rates, as justification for the bans. indiatimes.com+3wsj.com+3thedailybeast.com+3
Exemptions and Implementation
The travel ban does not apply to:aljazeera.com+1indiatimes.com+1
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Individuals with valid visas issued before June 9
- Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-restricted country
- Foreign diplomats
- Athletes participating in major international sporting events
- Certain humanitarian casesen.wikipedia.org+12aljazeera.com+12indiatimes.com+12washingtonpost.com+2reuters.com+2indiatimes.com+2en.wikipedia.orgapnews.com
Visas issued before the effective date will remain valid, and the administration indicated that the list of affected countries could be revised based on improvements in their security and information-sharing practices. reuters.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
Political and Legal Context
This move echoes the 2017 travel ban, often referred to as the “Muslim ban,” which faced significant legal challenges before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The current ban is expected to face similar opposition, with critics arguing that it is discriminatory and undermines international relations. en.wikipedia.org+6apnews.com+6thesun.co.uk+6
International organizations, including the African Union, have expressed concern over the potential negative impact on educational exchanges, commercial engagement, and broader diplomatic relations. reuters.com+1apnews.com+1
Broader Implications
The reinstatement of the travel ban is part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which includes increased deportations and stricter visa policies. It also aligns with President Trump’s campaign promises to prioritize national security and control over immigration. apnews.com+2reuters.com+2aljazeera.com+2wsj.com
As the policy goes into effect, affected individuals and organizations are advised to stay informed about the latest developments and seek legal guidance if necessary.
