Trump Revives Travel Ban: In a striking rollback of post‑Biden immigration policies, former President Donald Trump has resurrected his contentious travel ban, signing a proclamation on June 4, 2025, to take effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9. The order fully bars entry to U.S. diplomatic, tourism, student, and immigrant visa holders from 12 countries—primarily in the Middle East and Africa: Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, and Haiti. A second tier places partial restrictions on travelers from seven additional nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—affecting visas for business, tourism, work, and study.
Trump justified the renewed ban as a response to a violent attack in Boulder, Colorado, blaming it on an overstaying foreign national and warning of gaps in vetting systems. He emphasized issues like weak passport controls, elevated visa overstay rates, and a lack of information sharing with U.S. agencies. The administration argues this version is more legally robust and less chaotic than the 2017 counterpart, with clearer exemptions for current green‑card holders, valid visa holders, student visas, athletes, diplomats, and Afghan interpreters.
The announcement has triggered swift backlash: human‑rights groups decry it as “divisive” and discriminatory, educational institutions warn of upheaval for thousands of international students, and several affected governments are lodging formal protests. While the policy marks another aggressive pivot in Trump’s immigration agenda, early airport operations appear orderly, though critics warn of ongoing disruption where people aren’t fully aware of the exemptions and restrictions
Trump Revives Travel Ban: Timeline & Context
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June 4, 2025: President Trump signed a presidential proclamation titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats”.
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Effective date: The ban came into force at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9, 2025.
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It revives and expands on the earlier “Muslim ban” from his first term, supported by Executive Order 14161 signed January 20, 2025, aimed at enhanced vetting procedures.
Countries Affected
Full Entry Ban (12 countries)
No entry under any visa category for citizens outside the U.S. who do not hold valid visas as of June 9:
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Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Partial Restrictions (7 countries)
Limited bans on immigrant visas and certain non-immigrant visas (B‑1/B‑2, F, M, J):
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Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
Trump Revives Travel Ban: Exemptions & Exceptions
The ban does not apply to:
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Current visa holders and lawful permanent residents (green card holders),
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Dual‑nationals traveling on non‑banned passports,
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Diplomats, international athletes (e.g., for the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympics),
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Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas (e.g. those who aided U.S. forces),
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Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, refugee/adoption cases, and persecuted Iranian minorities.
Trump Revives Travel Ban: Trump’s Justification
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Cited a flamethrower/accelerant attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly by an Egyptian national who overstayed a visa, claiming deficient vetting of foreign nationals.
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Argued that the countries under full ban present “national security threats” due to terrorism links, poor passport controls, and visa overstay rates.
Trump Revives Travel Ban: Reaction & Criticism
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Civil rights, immigrant rights groups (e.g., Oxfam America, AfghanEvac, Center for Constitutional Rights, CAIR) condemned the ban as discriminatory, “racially motivated,” and harmful to vulnerable communities.
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Political leaders (like Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Pramila Jayapal) have called it a political distraction, raising concerns of a parallel “anti-Muslim bans” narrative.
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Some affected countries (Chad, the African Union) responded with diplomatic pushback, including visa suspensions.
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International students—especially from Iran and Venezuela (~24,000)—face disruption; universities are advising against travel due to re-entry uncertainty.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Ban Signed | June 4, 2025 |
| Effective | June 9, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT |
| Full‐Ban Countries | 12 (listed above) |
| Partial‐Ban Countries | 7 (listed above) |
| Key Exemptions | Visa holders, green card holders, dual nationals, diplomats, athletes, SIV Afghan nationals, immediate relatives, refugee/adoption cases |
| Justification | US national security, response to Colorado attack, vetting & identity concerns |
| Backlash | Civil rights criticism, diplomatic response, and impact on international students |
The ban is already stirring legal challenges and diplomatic fallout. It underscores Trump’s broader immigration agenda and echoes earlier, highly contested policies. The situation remains dynamic—countries may be added or removed, and U.S. courts may intervene.