New Trump Executive Order Bans U.S. Travel of Foreign Nationals of Certain Countries

In a new executive order (EO) effective June 9, 2025, President Trump has imposed a full travel ban on nationals of 12 countries, and partially bans the entry of certain nationals from 7 other countries. President Trump’s stated purpose in imposing the travel bans is to protect the nation from foreign terrorist and other national security and public safety threats from entry into the United States.

The travel ban applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the U.S. as of June 9, 2025, and who have not yet been issued a valid visa by that date. The EO does not revoke any immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before June 9, 2025. The EO also does not apply to an individual who has been granted asylum, admitted as a refuge, or granted withholding of removal or protections under CAT, and does not prevent anyone from applying for these benefits and forms of relief.

Nationals of 12 countries have a full ban on entry to the U.S.  All nationals of these 12 countries are banned from entering with either an immigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa.  These countries are:

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

Nationals of 7 countries have a partial ban on entry to the U.S. All nationals of these 7 countries are banned from entering the U.S. with either an immigrant visa, or one of the following nonimmigrant visa types: B‑1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J.  The EO orders consular officers to reduce the validity of all other nonimmigrant visa types (e.g., E-1/E-2, H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1) to the extent permitted by law. These countries are:

1. Burundi
2. Cuba
3. Laos
4. Sierra Leone
5. Togo
6. Turkmenistán
7. Venezuela

The EO does not apply to any to any of the following:

• Lawful permanent residents.
• Dual nationals who use a passport issued by a country that is not subject to a travel ban.
• The following nonimmigrant visa types: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO‑2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6.
• Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.
• Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA).
• Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4).
• Afghan Special Immigrant Visas.
• Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees.
• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

There are two types of discretionary exceptions available to foreign nationals subject to the ban:

1. Their entry would advance a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice, including to participate in criminal proceedings as witnesses.
2. Their entry would serve a U.S. national interest.

The countries on the full- or partial-ban list will be reviewed within 90 days of the effective date of the EO, and every 180 days thereafter, to assess whether there should be an adjustment or removal of any country from the ban list.  The EO also indicates that, due to the recent incident in Boulder, CO involving an Egyptian national attacking people rallying for the release of Israeli hostages, DOS is immediately reviewing the screening and vetting capabilities of Egypt to assess whether that country should be added to one of the travel bans.

If you have any questions about whether you are subject to this travel ban, seek the advice of an immigration attorney. You can reach Jennifer Cory at [email protected] and Jeff Widdison at [email protected]. We will be closely monitoring for any information or developments to provide the best advice for our clients.