Major U.S. Travel Ban Effective June 9: What Employers, Students, and Families Need to Know

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed two presidential proclamations imposing expansive travel restrictions that will significantly affect U.S. immigration policy, academic institutions, and millions of people worldwide. The measures took effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 9, and include a full suspension of U.S. visa issuance to 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven more.

These proclamations represent the broadest use of executive immigration authority since the original “travel ban” in 2017. Employers, students, universities, and families should prepare for immediate disruptions and long-term legal consequences.

19 Countries Now Face U.S. Travel Restrictions

The new travel ban divides impacted countries into two categories: fully banned and partially restricted.

Full Suspension: No Immigrant or Nonimmigrant Visas

Nationals of the following 12 countries are barred from entering the U.S. in any visa category, including family- and employment-based green cards, temporary worker visas, student visas, and tourist/business travel:

• Afghanistan

• Myanmar (Burma)

• Chad

• Republic of the Congo

• Equatorial Guinea

• Eritrea

• Haiti

• Iran

• Libya

• Somalia

• Sudan

• Yemen

These countries were identified based on a combination of security and administrative concerns, including high visa overstay rates, non-cooperation with U.S. deportation protocols, and lack of identity verification processes. For nationals of these countries, no new U.S. visas will be issued, and consular officers have been instructed to cancel upcoming interviews in the affected categories.

Partial Restrictions: Targeted Visa Suspensions

Seven additional countries face limited but impactful restrictions. Nationals of these countries are now barred from receiving visas in the following categories:

• B-1/B-2 (business and tourism)

• F and M (academic and vocational students)

• J (exchange visitors)

The affected countries include:

• Burundi

• Cuba

• Laos

• Sierra Leone

• Togo

• Turkmenistan

• Venezuela

These categories include most forms of short-term visits, academic study, and cultural exchange. Other visa types—such as H-2B seasonal labor, L-1 intracompany transfers, or employment-based green cards—are not directly banned. However, the proclamation directs consular officers to shorten the validity of those visas whenever possible, further restricting access even when not formally suspended.

Exceptions to the Ban

The proclamations are not retroactive: individuals with valid visas issued prior to June 9 are not affected by the new bans and can continue to travel. However, reentry may involve increased scrutiny or secondary inspection.

Additional exemptions include:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)

• Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-restricted country

• Diplomats and international organization visa holders (A, G, NATO, certain C transit visas)

• Certain Special Immigrant Visa holders, particularly Afghan allies and individuals employed by the U.S. abroad

• International adoptees with finalized documentation

• Participants in international sporting events (e.g., the Olympics)

• Individuals eligible for waivers or “national interest exceptions” (NIE)

• Refugees and asylum seekers are not directly banned but may be affected by broader restrictions under separate policies

Harvard University-Specific Ban

In an unprecedented move, a second proclamation signed the same day imposes a travel ban specifically on Harvard University. All foreign nationals seeking to enter the U.S. for study or exchange programs (F, M, and J visas) at Harvard are barred from entry starting June 9.

Even more unusually, this proclamation authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke already-issued visas of current Harvard students and exchange visitors, potentially forcing them to leave the U.S.

This level of institutional targeting has no known precedent in modern immigration law and has raised alarms about selective enforcement, academic freedom, and politicization of the visa process.

Background and Legal Context

These proclamations build on the legal foundation of the 2017 travel ban, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii. However, the new bans go further in both scope and rationale.

Key changes include:

• Broader geographic coverage: The new bans include countries from Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia, not just majority-Muslim nations.

• Expanded rationale: This version is grounded in visa overstay rates, identity documentation failures, and deportation non-cooperation, rather than religion.

• Greater administrative coordination: The policy followed a multi-agency review involving the State Department, DHS, and intelligence agencies.

However, critics argue the underlying motivations remain unchanged. Oxfam America issued a statement saying, “This policy is not about national security — it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States.”

The proclamation follows closely on the heels of a widely reported terror attack in Colorado involving an Egyptian national who had overstayed a tourist visa. Although Egypt is not currently banned, the administration has ordered officials to conduct a formal review of Egypt’s inclusion.

What This Means for You or Your Organization

• Employers should immediately review the immigration status and travel plans of any employees from the 19 affected countries. Visa renewals and reentry may no longer be possible after June 9.

• Universities should take urgent steps to support international students and scholars from targeted countries, particularly those newly admitted or on OPT/STEM extensions.

• Families awaiting reunification through immigrant visas (family-based green cards) may face indefinite delays.

• Students and researchers from banned countries, especially at Harvard, should consult legal counsel regarding their current visa status and options for transfer or reclassification.

Consular officers have already begun canceling appointments. Those with travel plans in the next few weeks should assess risks and, where applicable, expedite return or consider alternative legal strategies.

Final Thoughts: Legal Risks, Litigation, and What’s Next

Legal challenges are expected immediately after implementation. Civil rights groups, universities, and impacted individuals are preparing lawsuits challenging both the scope and intent of these proclamations. Reciprocity measures from foreign governments, particularly in Africa, may also follow.

Immigration policy in this political cycle is highly fluid. More countries may be added to the list, and valid visas could be revoked. The current bans are framed as indefinite “until national security concerns are resolved,” with no clear sunset clause or review process.