WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 4, 2025 — President Donald Trump reinstated and broadened his controversial nationality-based travel ban on Wednesday, citing national security concerns. The order suspends visas for nationals from 19 countries and imposes unprecedented restrictions on foreign students and researchers bound for Harvard University.
Details of the Expanded Ban
The new policy fully halts immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, immigrant visas and key temporary visas (B-1/B-2, F, M, and J) are barred for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Limited exemptions apply, including for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders, and individuals granted national interest waivers. Current visa holders and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are unaffected. The ban takes effect June 9 at 12:01 AM.
The 19 targeted nations represent over 475 million people. In 2023 alone, more than 115,000 individuals from Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti obtained green cards.
Unprecedented Move Against Harvard
In a separate but simultaneous action, Trump invoked the same authority to block all new foreign students and researchers from attending or working at Harvard University—a first-of-its-kind restriction on a U.S. academic institution. Critics argue the move undermines America’s global leadership in higher education.
Criticism: “Discriminatory and Economically Harmful”
Immigration advocates and economists warn the ban will strain families, disrupt businesses, and weaken key sectors reliant on foreign talent.
Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council, issued a sharp rebuke:“While national security is paramount, this blanket ban is a blunt instrument that punishes immigrants who pose no threat. It ignores their contributions—billions in taxes, entrepreneurship, and critical roles in STEM and healthcare. These policies didn’t enhance security during Trump’s first term, and they won’t now.”
Robbins also invoked the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which abolished national-origin quotas, lamenting the return of “discrimination shadowing the gate to the American nation.”
Broader Immigration Strategy
The ban follows a series of aggressive immigration measures under Trump’s second term, including asylum restrictions and heightened enforcement. Opponents argue the administration is avoiding systemic reforms—such as clearing backlogs or creating legal pathways—in favor of sweeping exclusions.
The policy is expected to face immediate legal challenges, mirroring the protracted battles over Trump’s initial 2017 travel ban.
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