U.S. Announces Sweeping Travel Ban Affecting 19 Countries
On June 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a reinstated travel ban targeting 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on seven others, to take effect on June 9. The banned countries include Afghanistan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—many of which are Muslim-majority. An additional seven countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face restricted travel conditions. ([washingtonpost.com][2], [reuters.com][3])
The policy includes exemptions for lawful permanent U.S. residents, dual nationals, diplomats, athletes traveling for major sporting events, specific immigrant visa holders such as family reunification, adoption cases, Afghan and U.S. government special immigrant visas, and persecuted Iranian minorities. ([reuters.com][3])
President Trump linked the policy to national security concerns, citing countries with high visa overstay rates and inadequate vetting systems. The move follows a January executive order aimed at addressing such risks and draws legal precedent from a Supreme Court-approved version of Trump’s earlier ban in 2018. ([washingtonpost.com][2], [indiatimes.com][4])
Critics, including humanitarian organizations and veterans’ groups, condemned the measure as discriminatory and divisive, especially due to Afghanistan’s inclusion. The updated ban includes some new countries not part of prior iterations and follows a more structured rollout to minimize the chaos that accompanied the 2017 order. ([washingtonpost.com][2], [indiatimes.com][4])
The ban is expected to face judicial challenges, and critics may oppose extending it to nations like Afghanistan, from where many have collaborated with U.S. forces. The announcement followed a political rally where President Trump hinted at potentially seeking more than two presidential terms. ([thetimes.co.uk][1])
This policy marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, with potential implications for international relations and global mobility.