On June 4, 2025, the White House issued a proclamation titled, “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” President Donald J. Trump signed the new directive, which places significant travel restrictions on citizens from 19 countries. The administration states it must take these measures to safeguard the nation against potential threats.
Executive Order 14161, from January 20, 2025, initiated a review process that resulted in this proclamation. The order directed the Secretary of State and other national security agencies to identify countries with deficient information-sharing and vetting practices. On April 9, 2025, the Secretary of State delivered a report recommending the current restrictions.
The Core of the New Travel Policy
This proclamation fundamentally limits the entry of individuals from countries with security protocols the U.S. government considers inadequate. The administration argues that these nations fail to provide sufficient information to properly vet their citizens. The proclamation contends this lack of information poses a risk to U.S. national security. The policy creates a full suspension of entry for some countries and a partial suspension for others, affecting both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.
Nations Under Full Suspension
The proclamation imposes a full suspension on both immigrant and nonimmigrant entry for nationals of 12 countries. The administration cites various reasons for their inclusion, from the presence of terrorist organizations to high rates of visa overstays.
Afghanistan: The proclamation points to the Taliban’s control and the lack of a reliable central authority for issuing documents. It also highlights a high visa overstay rate.
Burma (Myanmar): The administration lists this nation due to a very high visa overstay rate and a history of not accepting its citizens who are subject to removal from the U.S.
Chad, Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea: The administration includes these countries primarily because of what the proclamation describes as unacceptably high rates of their citizens overstaying U.S. visas.
Eritrea: The U.S. questions the integrity of Eritrean travel documents and notes a lack of access to criminal records. The country also has a history of refusing to accept its deported nationals.
Haiti: The text cites high visa overstay rates and the influx of “illegal Haitian aliens” during the previous administration as key factors, alongside the lack of a central authority to provide necessary security information.
Iran: The proclamation criticizes Iran, a designated state sponsor of terrorism, for failing to cooperate on security matters and not accepting its removable nationals.
Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen: The administration groups these nations due to the lack of a competent and cooperative central government to issue travel documents and manage security information. The government also notes the presence of terrorist groups and, in Yemen’s case, ongoing U.S. military operations as significant factors.
Nations Facing Partial Restrictions
Seven countries face a partial suspension of entry. For these nations, the government suspends the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants on popular visa types—such as business (B-1), tourist (B-2), student (F), and exchange visitor (J). Additionally, consular officers will reduce the validity period for other nonimmigrant visas they issue to their nationals.
Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan: The primary justification for including these countries is their high visa overstay rates. The administration also cites Laos and Sierra Leone for their failure to accept back removable nationals.
Cuba: The proclamation criticizes Cuba, a designated state sponsor of terrorism, for its lack of cooperation on law enforcement information and for refusing to accept its deported citizens.
Venezuela: The proclamation states that Venezuela lacks a competent authority for issuing passports and has a history of not accepting its removable nationals.
Impact on Nationals Currently in the U.S.
The proclamation explicitly states that it does not affect lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) of the United States. It also clarifies that the government will not revoke any valid visa issued before the proclamation’s effective date of June 9, 2025.
Furthermore, the restrictions do not apply to individuals who have already received asylum or refugee status in the United States. The text also asserts that nothing in the proclamation limits an individual’s ability to seek asylum or other protections under U.S. law.
The Path to Removal or Addition of Countries
The new travel policy establishes an ongoing review mechanism. The proclamation requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with other key security officials, to submit a report to the President every 180 days. This report will assess whether to continue, modify, or terminate the suspensions and limitations. This process allows for the possibility of removing countries from the list if they improve their information-sharing and security practices to meet U.S. standards.
Conversely, the administration could add other countries to the list if it deems their security situations have deteriorated. The proclamation specifically requires an updated review of Egypt’s practices to confirm the adequacy of its current capabilities. This ongoing review process suggests a dynamic and potentially evolving list of affected nations.
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