US President Donald Trump has introduced new travel restrictions that include a full travel ban impacting 12 countries and a partial ban on seven more.
President Trump Announces New Travel Ban Affecting 19 Countries (Full List)
On June 5, 2025, President Trump announced a sweeping new travel ban that will take effect at 12:01 am ET on Monday, June 9. The policy bars or restricts entry from 19 countries and revives a hallmark immigration measure from his first term, which was retooled due to legal challenges but ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 (and rescinded by the Biden Administration in 2021).
Countries Affected
Full Travel Ban (12 countries):
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Heightened Restrictions (7 countries):
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
The administration cites national security concerns, including inadequate traveler screening processes, significant terrorist threats, and lack of cooperation from governments in accepting deported individuals or addressing visa overstays, as reasons for these measures.
Implementation and Exemptions
In contrast to the original 2017 rollout, which caused confusion and detentions at airports, this version includes a brief five-day grace period for travelers and airlines to adjust.
Exemptions include:
- U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-restricted country
- Accredited diplomats and UN personnel
- Athletes and select visa holders with prior authorization
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, including those who assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict
Link to Colorado Attack?
Trump announced the travel ban while campaigning in Arizona and directly connected the policy to a recent violent incident in Colorado in which an Egyptian man allegedly stabbed several individuals, including four girls, in a park.
“Just this week, a foreign national viciously stabbed multiple people, including beautiful young girls, in a park in Rockford, Colorado,” Trump said. “Under Crooked Joe, we are a dumping ground for the rest of the world. On Day One, I will restore the travel ban and expand it even further to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country.”
The case Trump referred to involved a man legally present in the U.S. on a student visa from Egypt. Egypt is not one of the countries on Trump’s list.
Legal Outlook
Legal analysts believe this policy could survive court challenges, citing the precedent set in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the earlier travel ban on national security grounds. The inclusion of specific exemptions may bolster the administration’s legal standing.
While Trump’s own words may suggest the true reason for this ban, the inclusion of non-Muslim countries like Eritrea and Myanmar (Burma) and the specific rationale (visa overstays, inadequate oversight, poor recordkeeping) provided for the ban will make it very hard for this to be overturned.
I expect litigants will court shop until they find a federal judge willing to put this policy on hold, but I expect the Supreme Court to eventually uphold it.
CONCLUSION
The new travel ban, which affects 19 countries and revives a core Trump-era policy, reflects an ongoing focus on immigration control and national security. While exemptions cover key groups like Afghan SIV holders and legal residents, the broader implications of the policy will become clearer as implementation begins next week.
Travelers originating in or connecting through the affected countries should carefully review their documentation and consult with immigration counsel where appropriate.
image: White House
Great news!
Thank you Matthew!
There is no reason to give terrorists the right to enter our country and wreak havoc…
The list is too limited … the list is missing a few bad actors .
There has never been a terrorist from those countries who carried out an attack inside the US.
But there have been terrorists from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, including those who attacked 9/11.
But within the mindless MAGA logic, which makes no sense at all, it’s apparently okay.
Taco Trump, destroying the global and American economies, but enriching his own pockets and those of his billionaire friends.
Good luck paying the tariffs!
So when was the last time any of those 3 countries were linked to any attack on the US? 15-20+ years ago?
Come out of the hole from under that rock you’re living under Ricardo… ♂️
We’re in 2025 we should prosper from all the opportunities MAGA has given us, because holding on nearly 30yr grudges isn’t good for business or the economy!
Which opportunities has MAGA given us?
I have so many thoughts about this, and don’t really see how it can be justified in any manner other than xenophobia, but one country stands out the most… Laos. I cannot think of one single reason why Lao people are being restricted from entering the United States. Tons of Americans travel to Laos every year, before USAID was gutted we provided tons of aid, and there’s absolutely no history of terrorism in that country. I think there’s a strong argument to be made that the only terror acts ever perpetrated in Laos were done by the US Military during the Secret War.
China is building Laos a shiny new highway, lots of factories, and has already built a high speed rail line. Moves like this just hand our soft power over to China on a silver platter. Ditto for Togo, Sierra Leone, and Burundi.
Don’t forget the hundreds of thousands of people from Equatorial Guinea who overstayed tbeir visa limits…
It’s only 163 18 year old men that came and left when they realize the smiles they got were from creeps trying to F them. Even in their 3rd world they see the a## pirates for the deviates they are.
And welcome back buddy!
Good to see you are still the vile hateful piece of dribble p*ss you have always been.
What straight man would know that? What straight man would care to know that? You got it….none.
Laos is a head scratcher. I was there for sometime recently, felt very welcome, and there was much visible capitalism. I know PRC is highly influential in Laos, but PRC is influential in many other countries.
I don’t get the Cuba thing. Is the United States really still threatened by Reds under the bed? Seems to me the best way to solve the Cuba problem would be to remove all sanctions and let it thrive. It’d be like Viet Nam in no time at all , ie, “socialist” in name only.
Definition of a terrorist: one that uses violence , threats of violence to achieve political goals through fear , intimidation and coercion. Seems like the pot is calling the kettle black.
Damn, I’ll need to reschedule my summer trip to Afghanistan and Haiti! The big Taco is really doing a great job making America great again!
Matthew, do you think in light of Elon’s total meltdown today and how SpaceX might be affected, that United is getting a little nervous about their deal with starlink?
What the trans athletes we let cross the border every minute of every day?! Someone needs to think of our poor children.
Oooof. President Musk and VP Trump have had a falling out. Purses are being thrown!
Two over inflated egos collide.
It was always going to happen, the only question was when.
any “judge” who rules against this should be prosecuted for contempt of the SCOTUS.
SCOTUS clearly ruled in 2018 that this type of ban is legal. Any so-called judge who becomes a politician needs to be held to account for blatantly ignoring precedent
Precedents are just that, they are not law.
But lower courts are required to follow them
There will be a reduction in travellers from most other countries to of people who don’t want to visit Trumpton where you grow enough of your own terrorists in any event.
Is it as much as a week since the last mass shooting?
Now, all of you, stay at home, don’t pollute other countries and get on with killing each other. Quietly.
The list is arbitrary. The actions to create the lists are arbitrary. Even the head of Maga says there are good people on both sides.
Subject them to special scrutiny? sure. Banning in a blanket way is a play from the extremist play book
Click.
There you go, Matthew.