The Trump administration’s travel ban took effect on June 9, 2025. Details of the travel ban are outlined in a June 4, 2025, Executive Order titled, “Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats – The White House” . The travel ban restricts visa issuance for certain foreign nationals of nineteen (19) countries. According to reports, as many as 36 more countries, most of which are in Africa, may be added to the travel ban unless they improve on certain benchmarks.
Scope of the Current Travel Ban
The travel ban applies, either by total or partial suspension, to foreign nationals of nineteen (19) specific countries who:
- Are outside of the U.S. on June 9, 2025; and,
- Do not have a valid visa on June 9, 2025, to enter the U.S.
Total Suspension
Twelve (12) countries are listed as total entry bans: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The State Department is fully suspending visa issuance to nationals of these countries for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories with limited exceptions.
Partial Suspension
The State Department is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of seven (7) countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela - for nonimmigrant B, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions.
Exemptions
The ban does not apply to the following persons:
- Persons with a current U.S. green card or current valid visa;
- People who are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (i.e. spouses, children under age 21 and parents);
- Refugees, asylees, and individuals granted humanitarian protection (although President Trump has recently suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program indefinitely);
- Diplomats;
- NATO personnel;
- Dual nationals traveling on a non-banned country’s passport;
- Children adopted abroad;
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas applicants;
- Applicants of immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran;
- Athletes, coaches, support staff, and immediate relatives of athletes participating in major sporting events such as the World Cup and Olympics, or other major sporting events; and,
- Those whose travel is deemed in the national interest, are also exempt from the travel restrictions.
The eligibility criteria and procedures for a national interest exemption have not yet been announced. Lastly, the proclamation will not apply to anyone who has been granted asylum, to refugees already admitted to the United States, or to those granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
Anticipated Impact of the Travel Ban
Even with these exceptions, in general, the travel ban is likely to have an impact on organizations that routinely hire and invite foreign talent into the U.S. and communities throughout the U.S. Even employees with valid visas could face re-entry issues when trying to return to the U.S. after travel abroad. As such, organizations likely to be impacted by the ban should partner with their trusted immigration counsel.
The Dorsey & Whitney, LLP immigration team has extensive expertise in all aspects of the immigration challenges faced by those impacted by the travel ban. Please contact us for further information.