On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a travel ban affecting 19 countries, primarily in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, but Somaliland is not included. The policy, set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 9, 2025, imposes a full entry ban on nationals from 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns, inadequate vetting procedures, and high visa overstay rates.
Countries with Full Travel Ban (12):
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Countries with Partial Restrictions (7):
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
The full ban prohibits all immigrant and non-immigrant visas for nationals of the 12 listed countries, effectively barring them from entering the United States. Partial restrictions suspend specific visa categories, such as B-1/B-2 (tourist and business), F, M, and J (student and exchange visitor) visas, while allowing exceptions for certain work visas and highly vetted business travelers.
Exemptions and Conditions: The proclamation outlines exemptions for:
- Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (green card holders)
- Existing visa holders
- Foreign diplomats
- Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-banned country
- Individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests, such as athletes for major events or immediate family members with verified documentation
- Afghans holding Special Immigrant Visas due to prior work with the U.S. government
Somaliland Not Included: Somaliland, whose independence is not fully recognized, is not included in the list of countries subject to the travel ban, indicating that its nationals will not be affected by this new restriction.