President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation reinstating broad travel restrictions on 19 countries. The decision, issued on Thursday, June 5th, outlines new entry bans aimed at bolstering national security. Officials stated the policy targets nations with inadequate screening practices, weak government oversight, or high visa overstay rates. The updated restrictions are scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 9th.
Twelve countries are now subject to a full travel ban: Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Myanmar, Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Citizens from these countries will be denied both immigrant and non-immigrant visas. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s visa overstay report, Chad had an overstay rate of 49.5%, with several other banned nations also exhibiting noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws.
Partial restrictions have been applied to seven additional countries: Venezuela, Cuba, Laos, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan. Nationals from these countries are barred from specific visa classes, including those for students, tourists, and cultural exchanges. Some temporary visa options may still be available. Officials clarified that restrictions only apply to those outside the U.S. at the time of the announcement who do not already possess valid visas.
Exceptions to the ban include lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, diplomats, adoptees, and individuals traveling for certain international sporting events. Also exempt are recipients of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas and those applying for family-based immigration categories, provided they have documented proof of identity and relationship. Religious minorities from Iran facing persecution may also qualify for consideration under humanitarian provisions.
Trump defended the order in a Truth Social video, referencing a recent antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado. “Foreign nationals who are not properly vetted and overstay visas pose a threat,” he said. Officials further cited information from the National Counterterrorism Strategy, noting that insufficient vetting, lack of cooperation on deportation, and poor identity verification were major factors in the policy design.
Government data revealed that over 360,000 individuals from the listed countries entered the U.S. in 2022. Venezuela alone accounted for more than 250,000 of those arrivals. Officials stated that countries demonstrating improved cooperation and security standards could be removed from the list, while others could be added based on evolving threats.
