THE TRAVEL BAN TOOK EFFECT ON MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025.
Please seek legal advice from a trusted immigration attorney with questions about this ban or how it might impact you or your family.
On June 4, 2025, Trump issued a Proclamation, effective June 9, 2025, that will prevent a majority of Black and brown people from nineteen countries from traveling to the U.S., similar to the racist and xenophobic Muslim and African Bans that marked his first administration. Please find below more information on what we know and what we can expect.
What is the current Travel Ban?
Trump’s newest discriminatory and cruel ban prohibits people from 19 different countries– with predominantly Black, Brown and Muslim-majority populations– from traveling to the U.S. to different extents. For 12 countries, travel to the U.S. is prohibited on any type of visa– including visas based on family sponsorship (known as “immigrant visas” because they lead to a green card) or for tourism, business and student visas (known as “non-immigrant visas” as they are temporary in nature). For the other seven countries, travel is restricted for nearly all visa categories with a few narrow exceptions.
What countries does the ban apply to and how?
19 countries total– as specified below:
All travel banned– 12 countries
Includes travel on ANY type of visa (both immigrant and non-immigrant visas)
- Afghanistan
- Burma
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Most travel banned– 7 countries
Includes travel on visas that lead to a green card (immigrant visas) and certain type of temporary visas/ non-immigrant visas (B, F, M, and J visas)
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Is this new?
No. In January 2017, in his first administration, Trump issued several Travel Bans, which were challenged in court. Ultimately, in June 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld one of these bans that imposed travel restrictions on certain nationals of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. In early 2020, Trump also issued several other travel bans, some related to the spread of the COVID pandemic, and others generally banning entries of certain visa categories, which remained in place until Trump left office.
Does the ban apply to everyone?
No. The ban does not apply to green card holders or to people who were already granted a visa to travel to the United States as of June 9, 2025. In other words, the ban is not retroactive; it applies only to people outside of the U.S. as of June 9, 2025 who do not have a visa as of that date. There are also others exempted as outlined in the Proclamation– i.e. not banned from traveling to the U.S. that include:
- Those in the U.S. already granted asylum, refugee status, and other forms of protection, such as withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture
- Those with dual citizenship traveling on the passport of a country not listed in the Proclamation
- Those traveling on certain diplomatic visas
- Athletes and coaches traveling for the World Cup, Olympics or other major sporting events
- Those traveling to the U.S. to get a green card as the spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, or parent of an adult over the age of 21 who is a U.S. citizen
- Certain children traveling to the U.S. for the purpose of being adopted
- Afghans traveling on special visas issued to people determined to have worked on behalf of the U.S. government
- Those traveling on immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
- Those granted an exemption by the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, on a case-by-case basis if in the U.S. interest
Do we expect the ban to be challenged in court?
Yes, while a court challenge is likely, the likelihood of success is uncertain, given the Supreme Court’s decision in 2018, in Trump v. Hawaii, upholding a revised, third version of Trump’s first-term Travel Ban.
Seek Legal Advice From a Reputable Legal Service Provider
It is important for you to seek legal advice if you have questions about the current Travel Ban or how it might impact you or your loved ones. Beware of “notarios” or scammers. Find a reputable legal service provider near you.
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