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On June 4, 2025, the President issued a Presidential proclamation restricting the entry of certain foreign nationals to the United States.
The travel ban takes effect Monday June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT.
Full Travel Ban: The ban will fully suspend entry for immigrant and nonimmigrant nationals from these countries:
- Afghanistan
- Burma
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Partial Travel Ban: The ban suspends entry for immigrant, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visa holders, and reduces the of validity of other nonimmigrant visas (presumably to reciprocity schedule minimums) for the nationals of the following countries:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Possible Future Suspension:
- Egypt: the proclamation asks the Attorney General, DHS Secretary, and Director of National Intelligence to review conditions in Egypt due to recent conditions.
Scope:
- Only applies to those outside the U.S. on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT who are not in possession of a valid immigrant or nonimmigrant visas as of that date. No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before June 9, 2025 will be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.
- Does not apply to:
- Permanent Residents (presumably including immigrant visa holders already admitted to the U.S.);
- Dual nationals of a non-listed country (as long as the unaffected passport is presented);
- Immediate relative immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with “with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA)”;
- Individuals granted asylum;
- Refugees admitted to the U.S.; and
- Individuals granted withholding of removal under the CAT.
- The Proclamation does not limit the ability of individuals to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the CAT.
- The Attorney General and Secretary of State can make case-by-case exceptions if travel would advance a critical U.S. national interest, including to participate in criminal proceedings as a witness. As with prior bans, these exceptions may be made by a designee (presumably consular staff) and likely provided in very limited circumstances. The precise criteria and procedures governing these exceptions remain ambiguous, leaving the scope and their consistency of their implementation open to interpretation.
- Within 90 days of the proclamation and every 180 days thereafter, the Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and Director of National Intelligence shall submit a report recommending the continuation, termination, modification, or supplementation of the suspensions.
A second proclamation was also issued on June 4, 2025, entitled “Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University.” The proclamation:
- Suspends entry of F, J, and M students who attempt to begin attending Harvard after June 4, 2025;
- Directs the Secretary of State to consider revoking, in his discretion, visas of current Harvard students in F, M, or J status;
- Allows for a national interest exception as determined by Secretary of State or DHS or their designees;
- Will be reviewed as to whether it should be extended in 90 days.
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The Proclamation relates to “foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States solely or principally to participate in a course of study at Harvard University or in an exchange visitor program hosted by Harvard University.” It does not appear to apply to individuals who will principally attend other institutions.
Implementation Concerns:
Though styled as an entry ban under INA 212(f), the proclamation will likely affect both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants (i.e., consular posts may cancel existing appointments and prevent future appointment scheduling for the restricted nationalities or categories), as well as those who already have an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa and seek entry after the ban takes effect.
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