President Donald J. Trump today issued a proclamation dramatically restricting the entry of foreign nationals from 19 countries.
The executive action, effective June 9, 2025, at 12:01 AM EDT, cites deficient vetting and screening information, high visa overstay rates, and a lack of cooperation from certain nations in accepting back their removable citizens as primary justifications.
The proclamation builds upon an earlier Executive Order (14161) from January 20, 2025, which established a policy of protecting U.S. citizens from individuals who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten national security, espouse hateful ideology, or exploit immigration laws for malevolent purposes.
Full Suspensions for 12 Countries
Under the new order, full suspensions are imposed on both immigrant and nonimmigrant entry for nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The proclamation details specific reasons for each country’s inclusion:
- Afghanistan: Cited for being controlled by the Taliban (a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group), lacking a competent central authority for document issuance, and having high visa overstay rates (9.70% for B-1/B-2 visas and 29.30% for F, M, J visas in FY2023).
- Burma: Noted for high visa overstay rates (27.07% for B-1/B-2 and 42.17% for F, M, J in FY2023) and historical non-cooperation in accepting removable nationals.
- Chad: Highlighted for “unacceptable” and “blatant disregard for United States immigration laws” due to soaring visa overstay rates (49.54% for B-1/B-2 and 55.64% for F, M, J in FY2023, up from 37.12% in FY2022).
- Republic of the Congo: Cited for B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 29.63% and F, M, J visa overstay rate of 35.14%.
- Equatorial Guinea: Noted for B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 21.98% and a significantly high F, M, J visa overstay rate of 70.18%.
- Eritrea: Concerns raised over the competence of its central authority for document issuance, unavailability of criminal records to the U.S., historical refusal to accept removable nationals, and high overstay rates (20.09% for B-1/B-2 and 55.43% for F, M, J).
- Haiti: Cited for B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 31.38% and F, M, J visa overstay rate of 25.05%. The proclamation also directly references “hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens” during the previous administration, creating “acute risks of increased overstay rates, establishment of criminal networks, and other national security threats.”
- Iran: Designated as a state sponsor of terrorism, with regular failure to cooperate in identifying security risks and historical failure to accept back removable nationals.
- Libya: Noted for lacking a competent central authority for documents and a historical terrorist presence within its territory.
- Somalia: Identified as a “terrorist safe haven” with a government lacking control over its territory, insufficient screening measures, and historical refusal to accept removable nationals.
- Sudan: Cited for lacking a competent central authority for documents and insufficient screening, along with B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 26.30% and F, M, J visa overstay rate of 28.40%.
- Yemen: Concerns raised over lacking a competent central authority for documents, insufficient screening, and the government’s lack of physical control over its territory, which has been a site of active U.S. military operations since January 20, 2025.
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A partial suspension of entry applies to nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. For these countries, immigrant visas and specific nonimmigrant visas (B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J) are suspended.
Furthermore, consular officers are directed to reduce the validity of any other nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of these countries to the extent permitted by law.
Reasons for these partial restrictions include:
- Burundi: Overstay rates of 15.35% for B-1/B-2 and 17.52% for F, M, J visas.
- Cuba: Designated as a state sponsor of terrorism, non-cooperation in sharing law enforcement information, historical refusal to accept removable nationals, and overstay rates of 7.69% for B-1/B-2 and 18.75% for F, M, J visas.
- Laos: High B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 34.77% and historical failure to accept removable nationals.
- Sierra Leone: Overstay rates of 15.43% for B-1/B-2 and 35.83% for F, M, J visas, and historical failure to accept removable nationals.
- Togo: Overstay rates of 19.03% for B-1/B-2 and 35.05% for F, M, J visas.
- Turkmenistan: Overstay rates of 15.35% for B-1/B-2 and 21.74% for F, M, J visas.
- Venezuela: Lacks a competent central authority for documents, insufficient screening, and historical refusal to accept removable nationals. B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 9.83%.
The proclamation emphasizes that these measures are “necessary to prevent the entry or admission of foreign nationals about whom the United States Government lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose to the United States.”
It also aims to encourage cooperation from foreign governments in improving information-sharing and identity-management protocols.
Exceptions to the restrictions include lawful permanent residents, dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country, certain diplomatic and international organization visa holders, athletes for major sporting events, immediate family immigrant visas with clear evidence of identity and relationship, adoptions, Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees, and immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
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Case-by-case exceptions can also be made by the Attorney General for critical U.S. national interests involving the Department of Justice, or by the Secretary of State for broader U.S. national interests.
The proclamation directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence, to assess the effectiveness of these suspensions every 180 days and recommend adjustments.
Engagement with the identified countries to improve compliance with U.S. security requirements is also mandated. Furthermore, an update on Egypt’s screening and vetting capabilities is to be provided in light of recent events. Sources
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