Trump Administration Issues New ‘Travel Bans’
On June 4, 2025, the Trump Administration issued two presidential proclamations prohibiting certain foreign nationals from entering the United States.
The first of these proclamations, which will take effect on Monday, June 9, 2025, prohibits nationals from several countries from entering the United States either in temporary status, or as new permanent residents. Nationals of the following countries are impacted by a ‘full’ ban under the proclamation: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This means that nationals of these countries are ineligible to enter the United States or apply for visas to the United States in most categories. Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela are subject to a ‘partial’ ban, meaning that the ban only applies to a few specific categories, including tourist (B-2), business visitors (B-1), exchange visitors (J) and students (F and M). Importantly, the ban does not restrict persons who are already green card holders, or who already have a valid visa issued prior to the effective date of the ban from entering the United States. The ban also does not apply to dual nationals who are traveling on a passport from a non-designated country. There are a number of other potential exceptions that may apply in specific cases.
The Administration’s second travel ban, which takes effect immediately, restricts the entry of new F, M, and J students seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University. The suspension on entry will be in effect for six (6) months, unless an extension is issued. The ban only applies to new students, and provides a limited exception for students whose entry would be in the national interest. For F, M, and J students who are currently attending Harvard University and are in the United States, the proclamation provides the Department of State with the discretion to revoke their visas based on derogatory information of any illegal or criminal activity.
What this Means for our Clients
Although the new travel bans will impact a relatively small number of non-citizens seeking to enter the United States, the abrupt implementation of the bans suggests that future travel restrictions that are broader in scope may be announced with little or no advance notice. We continue to recommend that persons working in the United States in temporary status (e.g., H-1B, L-1, TN, etc.) avoid non-essential international travel unless they already have a valid visa or travel document.
Please contact our office if you have questions about how the Trump Administration’s new policies may apply in a specific situation.