On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued the Proclamation, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. It orders suspension of entry for nonimmigrant visa holders and immigrant visa holders from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Nationals from these countries are fully restricted from entry, with certain exceptions (noted below).
The Proclamation also orders a partial suspension of entry for nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The partial restrictions are defined as a ban on entry for immigrant visa holders and nonimmigrant visa holders on B, F, M, and J visas (with certain exceptions). Consular officers are directed to limit the validity of other nonimmigrant visas—presumably to the minimum allowed under the reciprocity schedule.
Egypt is flagged for potential addition to the above lists.
Although the Proclamation uses the term “national,” it says that dual nationals traveling on passport or applying for a visa from a non-banned country are exempt from the ban. Other exemptions are listed for immediate relatives who can prove a familial relationship (via DNA), World Cup and Olympic athletes, and certain government officials, among others. As with prior bans, a national interest exemption is available on a case-by-case basis.
The ban is prospective: it only applies to foreign nationals of the designated countries who (i) are outside the United States on the applicable effective date of the proclamation, and (ii) do not have a valid visa on the applicable effective date of the proclamation. Valid visas already issued will not be revoked under the ban.
The ban takes effect on 12:01AM Eastern time on June 9, 2025 and will be reviewed in 90 days, and every 180 days thereafter. Litigation will most certainly ensue and may modify the above over time.
President Trump also issued a second Proclamation, Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University, suspending entry for Harvard University students (F, M, J visas) and providing for possible revocation of visas for existing visa holders. The Proclamation also provides for exemptions in the national interest.
JSPBC is monitoring developments. Further resources will be posted as we learn more.
© Jewell Stewart Pratt Beckerson & Carr PC 2025