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1. Proclamation: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect The United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats effective June 9, 2025
This proclamation is the long-anticipated travel ban that many expected on the first day of this administration. It restricts the issuance of visas in two categories:
(1) Both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for nationals from the following twelve countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
(2) For the following countries, it suspends the issuance of all immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas in the B-1/B-2, F, M and J visa categories: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. For these countries, it also indicates that consular officers should reduce the validity of any other nonimmigrant visa issued in a non-suspended visa category (all those except B, F, M and J) to the extent permitted by law. It is unclear what this exactly means.
WHO DOES THIS APPLY TO?
For nationals of the 19 countries listed above, the travel ban applies to (1) those who are outside of the United States as of Monday, June 9, 2025, and who do not have a valid visa as of this date.
WHAT ARE THE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS TRAVEL BAN?
· Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders);
· Anyone who has a second nationality and travels with the passport of the country not
on the travel ban;
· Anyone traveling with valid visas in these categories: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2,
G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4 , NATO-5, and NATO-6;
· Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a
necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup,
Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
· Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and
convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);
· Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);
· Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;
· Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees; and
· Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
Other exceptions include:
· Individuals for whom the Attorney General finds would advance a critical U.S.
national interest involving the U.S. Department of Justice, including when they must
be present to participate in criminal proceedings as witnesses; and
· On a case-by-case bases made by the Secretary of State when the admission of the
individual would serve a U.S. national interest.
The proclamation also does not apply to anyone who has been granted asylum, admitted as a refugee, or granted withholding of removal or protection on the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CAT).
2. Proclamation: Enhancing National Security By addressing Risks at Harvard University
In his continued battle against Harvard University, President Trump suspends the entry of any foreign national in F, M or J status to pursue a course of study at Harvard University. This suspension is for 6 months starting yesterday, from June 4, 2025. It also indicates that the Secretary of State shall consider whether to revoke visas of students already at Harvard University, and directs other agencies to review whether limitations should be imposed on Harvard’s ability to participate in the SEVP system required for the admission of foreign students.
The proclamation does not apply to foreign students seeking to enter to attend other universities or to those whose entry would be in the national interest (without indicating how this would be determined).
It instructs that within 90 days, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland security shall issue a joint recommendation on whether to extend this suspension.
We anticipate that this proclamation will be challenged immediately in federal court.
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