June 9, 2025
Following a blueprint from his first administration, President Trump has announced the long-anticipated 2025 travel ban targeting 19 countries, which went into effect Monday, June 9th, at 12:01 a.m. EDT. The explicit discrimination embedded in bans that preclude countries, including many African and Muslim-majority countries, is an affront to the foundational values of our country. Targeting countries in the Global South in such an arbitrary and discriminatory manner perpetuates false narratives, erodes the multiculturalism that defines America, and instills fear in our communities while doing little to nothing to increase national security in the U.S.
Nationals of the following countries have a near-total ban on travel, described as “suspended and limited” with case-by-case exceptions[1]:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
The less restrictive category only partially restricts travel for “nationals of countries of identified concern” including:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Those individuals affected by the 2025 travel ban are not powerless! Travelers should:
– Know their rights while traveling.
– Consult an immigration attorney for individual questions.
– Review community education resources from MLFA and other nonprofit organizations or private attorneys.
While it may seem that the Trump administration is operating with impunity, this presidential proclamation will not go unchallenged. As with previous travel bans, attorneys are mobilizing to challenge the constitutionality of the 2025 travel ban in federal court. A network of attorneys, protesters, and everyday Americans is ready to respond and remind this administration that the United States is a proud nation of immigrants.
To read the Presidential Proclamation, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats
[1] Exceptions in both ban categories: 1) Any Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States; 2) Any dual national who travels on a passport of an undesignated country; 3) diplomatic nonimmigrants (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); 4) Athletes, coaches, and support personnel traveling for the World Cup; 5) Immediate family member immigrant visas with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship; 6) Adoptees; 7) Afghan Special Immigrant Visas; 8) Special Immigrant Visas for government employees; 9) Immigrant visas for persecuted Iranian ethnic and religious minorities; and 10) Individuals where the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Department of Homeland Security have determined their entry is in the national interest, including those participating as a witness in criminal proceedings.
