Trump’s US travel bans and restrictions. Credit: noamgalai, Shutterstock
Twelve countries will face a total U.S. entry ban, and seven others will be subject to visa restrictions starting Monday, June 9, 2025, under a proclamation signed by President Donald J. Trump.
The new measures are part of a broader immigration clampdown, which the White House says is necessary to prevent “terrorist attacks and other national security or public-safety threats.”
The full proclamation, titled ‘Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats’, was published on June 4, 2025.
12 countries face complete US travel bans
According to the proclamation, “The entry into the United States of nationals of [these] countries as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby fully suspended.”
The full bans apply to citizens of:
- Afghanistan
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
The document outlines country-specific risks, such as “Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.”
Iran was labelled “a state sponsor of terrorism”, while Libya “has no competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents.” Somalia was described as “a terrorist safe haven” where “terrorists use regions… as safe havens from which they plan, facilitate, and conduct their operations.”
7 nations face partial US restrictions on key visas
The following seven countries are subject to partial visa suspensions affecting B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visa categories:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
The proclamation states, “The entry into the United States of nationals of [these countries] as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas is hereby suspended.”
In addition, “Consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of [these countries] to the extent permitted by law.”
Why are these nations being targeted by US travel bans and restrictions?
The White House lists multiple reasons for the restrictions, including:
- “Inadequate identity-management or information-sharing policies”
- “Significant terrorist presence within [the country’s] territory”
- “High rates of visa overstays”
Chad, for example, had a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 49.54 per cent, according to the Fiscal Year 2023 DHS report.
Trump stated, “The immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in sections 2 and 3 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.”
Which travellers are exempt from Trump’s US travel bans and restrictions?
Some travellers will be exempt, including:
- “Any lawful permanent resident of the United States”
- “Athletes… travelling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event”
- “Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4)”
- “Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran”
The order clarifies, “No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date… shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.”
Mixed global reaction to Trump’s US travel bans and restrictions
According to Reuters, Somalia pledged to engage diplomatically, with its U.S. ambassador. Meanwhile, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the U.S. of political persecution, saying: “Being in the United States is a big risk for anybody… They persecute our countrymen, our people for no reason.”
Trump’s previous US travel ban
Trump’s 2025 action mirrors his controversial 2017 travel ban, which initially targeted several Muslim-majority countries and was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. That policy was later reversed by President Biden in 2021, who called it “a stain on our national conscience.”
In his June 4 proclamation, Trump reaffirmed: “The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are… necessary to garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance… national security and counterterrorism objectives.”
What’s your view? Are these new travel restrictions a justified security measure or pure discrimination? Let us know in the comments.
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