On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump issued the Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Threats.
This Proclamation will come into effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. ET and outlines significant restrictions for citizens of various countries deemed to pose national security risks.
The proclamation indicates that the President weighed numerous factors before implementing these measures.
Among them were each country’s screening and vetting capabilities, information-sharing policies, and risk factors associated with terrorism and visa overstays.
As a result, the Proclamation establishes a total entry ban for citizens from 12 identified countries, namely:
1. Afghanistan
2. Burma
3. Chad
4. Republic of the Congo
5. Equatorial Guinea
6. Eritrea
7. Haiti
8. Iran
9. Libya
10. Somalia
11. Sudan
12. Yemen
This ban applies equally to both nonimmigrants and immigrants seeking entry into the United States.
Moreover, a partial entry ban has been implemented for citizens of seven additional countries:
1. Burundi
2. Cuba
3. Laos
4. Sierra Leone
5. Togo
6. Turkmenistan
7. Venezuela
For these countries, the Proclamation specifies that the entry of their citizens as immigrants is suspended.
Additionally, the entry of citizens traveling under B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas is also suspended, as is the validity of all other nonimmigrant visas issued to these individuals.
Such reductions will align with the minimum period indicated in each country’s Reciprocity Schedule.
The Proclamation further calls for a review of the situation in Egypt, prompting speculation that citizens of Egypt may face similar future restrictions.
It is crucial to note that these restrictions will only apply to foreign nationals from the designated countries who are outside the United States as of the Proclamation’s effective date.
Those individuals must also lack a valid visa on June 9, 2025.
Exemptions from the Proclamation’s restrictions include:
– Lawful permanent residents of the United States.
– Dual nationals traveling on passports from countries not designated in the Proclamation.
– Foreign nationals holding valid nonimmigrant visas in specific classifications, listed as A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, and all NATO classifications.
– Athletes and team members traveling for major events such as the World Cup and Olympics, along with their immediate relatives.
– Individuals applying for immediate family immigrant visas or adoptions who can provide clear evidence of identity and family relationship.
– Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders and those with Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees.
– Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
In terms of case-by-case exceptions, the Proclamation grants powers to the Attorney General and Secretary of State.
The Attorney General may authorize exceptions for individuals whose travel aligns with national interest concerning Justice Department activities, especially in relation to criminal proceedings.
The Secretary of State may also grant exceptions for individuals whose travel serves U.S. national interests.
However, specific criteria for considering these exceptions remain undisclosed, raising doubts about their predictability and fairness.
Notably, the Proclamation affirms that no visas issued before its effective date will be revoked.
Though entry is restricted, it does not specifically prohibit future visa issuance for those impacted by the travel bans.
However, practical implications suggest that visa processing for citizens of the affected countries might be halted, given their inability to enter the U.S. even with issued visas.
The travel restrictions will not affect individuals who have already been granted asylum, nor those who are refugees admitted to the U.S.
Individuals granted withholding of removal or protections under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) are also exempt from these Proclamation measures.
Furthermore, the Proclamation does not impede an individual’s rights to seek asylum, refugee status, or protections under CAT.
To maintain oversight, the Secretary of State must submit reports to the President every 90 days after the Proclamation takes effect and every 180 days thereafter.
These reports are to discuss potential continuance, termination, modification, or supplementation of the restrictions based on ongoing assessments.
Media outlets have recently highlighted that the U.S. may broaden the travel ban to include an additional 36 countries.
In a diplomatic cable signed by the Secretary of State, the Department of State has expressed concerns regarding these countries.
The cable indicated that if the countries do not meet established benchmarks within 60 days, the Department might recommend a full or partial travel ban for their citizens.
Foreign nationals from countries under total or partial entry bans must consider their circumstances carefully.
Those in the U.S. as of the effective date are exempt from the bans.
Possessing a valid visa during that time also shields individuals from restrictions.
If individuals find themselves at risk of being affected, they may explore case-by-case exceptions; however, the lack of clear guidelines adds uncertainty to this avenue.
To summarize, the Proclamation’s national security focus leads to stringent measures against citizens from specific countries, highlighting the evolving challenges in U.S. immigration policy.
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