Travel restrictions for a dozen nations become active, enforced under the administration of President Trump
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Heads up! The fresh U.S. travel regulation is now in place.
Gotcha! The travel ban, announced a few days ago by President Donald Trump, kicked off on Monday (00:01 local time and 06:01 CEST).
This new rule blocks citizens from 12 countries from setting foot in the States. You're looking at Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. People hailing from seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela - can still enter, but under certain limitations.
Now, if you're hanging onto hopes of obtaining a permanent residence permit, don't worry – you're in the clear. Same goes for people with dual citizenship carrying a passport from an unaffected country, or if you're family to a U.S. citizen. Diplomats, participants in international sporting events, recognized refugees, and Afghan local employees with special visas also made the exception list.
Human rights watchdogs have clapped back harshly against the travel ban, slamming it as "discriminatory, racist, and simply cruel."
You're probably wondering how this new restriction stacks up against the "Muslim Ban" enacted during Trump's first term. Let's break it down.
- The original "Muslim Ban," issued in 2017, prohibited refugees and citizens from several predominately Muslim countries from stepping into the U.S. - including Iran, Yemen, and Iraq. The latter was later removed from the list.
- Chaotic scenes at airports erupted as the ban took effect without warning, with even those holding valid residency permits initially detained or sent back. Tensions escalated between the affected countries, families were separated, and numerous people were left in limbo. At the same time, a counter-movement arose in response. After massive protests and legal squabbles, the Trump administration revised the rules.
Bottom line: We've got a travel ban on our hands, and it's stirring up old controversies. Will it unfold differently this time around? Only time will tell.
-> Enrichment Data Integration:Details of the New Travel Ban: The new U.S. travel ban limits entries for nationals from 12 countries (Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) and imposes suspension of certain visa classes on 7 countries (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela). The ban affects those outside the U.S. without a valid visa as of June 9, 2025 [1][3][5].
Exceptions and Exemptions: Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), existing visa holders, those with special visas (humanitarian, diplomatic, and national interest exceptions), and U.S. national interest cases are exempt. [3][1]
Criticisms: Perceived discrimination against Muslim-majority countries, lack of transparency regarding assessment criteria, impact on families and students, and debate over presidential power versus civil liberties are among the considerations. [2][3]
Comparison to the Trump ‘Muslim Ban’: Both the current ban and the original ban rely on section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, cover multiple countries with a mix of full and partial restrictions, and have exemptions for similar categories. [2][3]
Politics and general news: The new U.S. travel ban, which restricts entries for nationals from 12 countries and suspends certain visa classes for 7 countries, has sparked criticisms of discrimination against Muslim-majority countries.
War-and-conflicts and general news: The new travel ban also raises questions about its potential impact on families, students, and foreign policy, as well as the balance between presidential power and civil liberties.
