On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation introducing a new travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries.
The directive, which will take effect on June 9, 2025, aims to address what the administration describes as national security threats.
The policy imposes a full entry ban on individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, limited visa restrictions will apply to nationals from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
According to the White House, the move stems from concerns over inadequate security screening in these nations, risks of terrorism, and threats to public safety. The proclamation builds on Executive Order 14161, signed on January 20, 2025, which evaluated the effectiveness of global vetting systems.
Certain groups are exempt from the restrictions, including lawful U.S. permanent residents, individuals already holding valid visas, and others qualifying under special circumstances.
However, advocacy groups such as the International Refugee Assistance Project have condemned the new rules, arguing that they unfairly target particular ethnic and national groups and amount to racial discrimination.
