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The Trump administration relaunched in mid-2025 one of the most controversial measures of its first term — and expanded its scope: a broad entry ban on the United States targeting nationals from 19 countries, with 12 under full restriction and 7 under partial restriction. The measure took effect on June 9, 2025, and is subject to periodic review, with reassessments every 90 and 180 days to determine whether restrictions continue, end, or are adjusted.
The legal basis invoked is Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which grants the president authority to suspend the entry of any class of aliens deemed detrimental to U.S. interests. The proclamation was issued under Executive Order 14161, titled Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, signed in January 2025.
Countries Under Full Restriction
Entry for nationals of the following 12 countries is fully suspended: Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The government’s stated rationale generally involves insufficient consular cooperation from these countries, deficiencies in civil identity systems, or high overstay rates.
Countries Under Partial Restriction
Seven countries are under limited restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. For these, the suspension is selective, typically affecting specific immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories. Rules vary by country and may include substantially increased documentation requirements and extended processing times.
Who Is Exempt from the Ban
The proclamation includes a significant list of exceptions. The following are not affected: lawful permanent residents (green card holders); individuals already admitted as refugees or granted asylum; dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-listed country; holders of diplomatic and official visas (A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, and NATO-1 through NATO-6 categories); athletes, coaches, and delegation staff for major sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics; immediate relative immigrant visa petitions (IR-1, CR-1, IR-2, CR-2, and IR-5) with proof of identity and family relationship; adoption cases (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4); Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans and U.S. government employees; and visas for ethnic and religious minorities persecuted in Iran.
Protected Sporting Events
The athlete exemption is particularly significant because the United States will host the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, the FIFA World Cup in 2026 (jointly with Canada and Mexico), and the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. The proclamation ensures that sports delegations, technical staff, immediate family members, and other support personnel may travel even from restricted countries, provided they are designated by the Secretary of State.
Enhanced Vetting and Procedural Review
Beyond the country list, the proclamation directs the Department of State — in coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence — to implement three operational measures:
- Maximize vetting procedures for all visa applicants, with expanded use of databases and inter-agency cooperation.
- Review what information is required from applicants to ensure adequate assessment of national security risks.
- Restore uniform consular evaluation standards aligned with those in effect on January 19, 2021, the last day of Trump’s first term.
Possible Future Expansions
The proclamation also commissioned a report, due within 60 days, identifying other countries whose information-sharing systems are considered deficient enough to justify partial or full suspension. That report opens the door for new nationalities to be added to the list in the near future. Reviews of current restrictions occur on 90- and 180-day cycles, with executive discretion to maintain, adjust, or lift any element.
Impact by Visa Category
For tourist visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F-1, M-1), and temporary work visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1, among others), the general rule for nationals of the 12 fully restricted countries is visa denial, unless one of the listed exceptions applies. For immediate relative immigrant visas (IR-1, CR-1, IR-2, CR-2, IR-5), there is express authorization, conditioned on robust documentary proof of the family relationship.
Employment-based immigrant visas (EB-1, EB-2, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5) are not included in the exceptions list, meaning applicants from fully restricted nationalities face, as a rule, a processing suspension. The Diversity Visa Program (visa lottery) is also impacted for these nationalities.
International and Legal Reactions
Several governments have responded. Venezuela characterized the United States as a dangerous destination and accused Washington of discriminatory practices. Somalia adopted a diplomatic tone, offering cooperation to resolve outstanding consular issues. Myanmar stated it had sought contact with U.S. authorities without immediate success.
Domestically, immigrant rights organizations announced legal challenges. The history of the first Travel Ban, from 2017, is relevant: after multiple versions and two trips to the Supreme Court, the final version was upheld in Trump v. Hawaii (2018) on the basis of the broad presidential authority under Section 212(f). Current case law is therefore favorable to the Executive, which reduces the likelihood of a complete judicial defeat — although specific aspects (such as enforcement at ports of entry, due process, and waiver requests) remain litigable.
Guidance for Affected Nationals
Individuals who hold a green card or U.S. citizenship are not covered by the proclamation and retain the right to enter the United States. People with pending consular applications should confirm with their consular post which procedure applies to their specific case, since each visa category and each exception has its own documentation requirements. Dual nationals must travel exclusively on a passport from a non-listed country, as the proclamation requires. Families with pending immediate relative immigrant petitions should gather complete identity and family relationship documentation before the consular interview, given the expected increase in scrutiny.
History of Entry Restrictions
The 2025 version differs from the 2017 one in that it covers more countries and provides more detailed exception categories. The first Travel Ban initially targeted Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia, later expanded to include North Korea, Venezuela, and Chad. It was revoked by President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, the first day of his term. The 2025 edition revives the legal tool and considerably broadens its application.
Outlook Until the Next Review
Because the proclamation mandates periodic reassessments, the list of countries and the scope of exceptions may change at any time. The pattern observed in prior administrations involves adjustments through new proclamations, selective removals, and targeted additions. Anyone planning immigration or travel to the United States from any of the 19 currently affected countries should monitor the Federal Register, the travel.state.gov website, and USCIS updates closely.
Victoria Harper
Editor-in-Chief
Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.
