WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 4, 2025 – Speaking from the Truman Balcony at the White House on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new travel ban, suspending entry to the United States for citizens of 12 countries, effective Monday, June 9 at 12:01 a.m. ET.
12 Countries Named in Trump’s 2025 Travel Ban
Under a presidential proclamation signed Wednesday, the Trump administration is suspending travel for nationals from the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
The proclamation cites national security as the primary motivation for the ban, stating that these nations “lack sufficient vetting and screening protocols” to identify individuals who may pose terrorism or public safety risks to the U.S.
Partial Restrictions for 7 Additional Countries
The proclamation also imposes partial entry restrictions on nationals from seven other countries:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Factors considered in the restrictions include each country’s information-sharing practices, visa overstay rates, and the presence of terrorist threats, according to the White House.
Trump Cites Boulder Attack, Orders Renewed Vetting
In a video statement released Wednesday night, President Trump referenced the recent attack on Jewish protestors in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly carried out by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national. Notably, Egypt is not among the countries listed in the current ban.
Trump also stated that he ordered a comprehensive review of immigration security on his first day in office, directing the Secretary of State to identify “high-risk regions” and propose travel restriction policies accordingly.
Policy Echoes Trump’s 2017 Travel Ban
This new executive order echoes Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which targeted seven Muslim-majority countries and was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 after significant legal and political challenges. That policy was reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Opposition From Lawmakers
Democratic leaders have condemned the move. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) posted on social media platform X:
“Make no mistake: Trump’s latest travel ban will NOT make America safer. We cannot continue to allow the Trump administration to write bigotry and hatred into U.S. immigration policy.”
Who Is Affected by the 2025 Travel Ban?
The policy applies to foreign nationals from the listed countries who are currently outside the United States and do not already possess valid visas as of the ban’s start date.
However, exemptions apply, including:
- U.S. permanent residents (green card holders)
- Athletes traveling to participate in major sporting events
- Immediate family members who can provide “clear and convincing evidence” of identity and relationship – including DNA verification
