Explained: Trump Travel Ban And Is India On The List

Citing national security concerns, American President Donald Trump has banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and restricted access for those from seven others
Explained: Trump Travel Ban And Is India On The List
American President Donald Trump has banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States from June 9Freepik
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American President Donald Trump has banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and restricted access for those from seven others. Citing national security concerns, the move is similar to the restrictions that were imposed during his first term in office (2017-2021).

The announcement came after a terror attack by an Egyptian man in the state of Colorado earlier this week left 12 people injured. “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,” Trump said while announcing the ban. “We don’t want them.”

Which Countries Are On The Banned List?

Trump Travel Ban
Citizens of Libya are banned from travelling to the US from June 9Eddeb/Shutterstock

Citizens of the following countries face a complete travel ban to the United States of America beginning June 9:

  • Afghanistan

  • Myanmar

  • Chad

  • The Republic of Congo

  • Equatorial Guinea

  • Eritrea

  • Haiti

  • Iran

  • Libya

  • Somalia

  • Sudan

  • Yemen

India is not on the list of countries included in Trump's travel ban. Despite this, Indian students going to the USA are currently facing uncertainty about their visas after Trump directed all embassies and consulates worldwide to halt student visa applications pending a social-media vetting process.

Trump Travel Ban
Indian students going to the US are currently facing uncertainty about their visas after Trump directed all embassies and consulates worldwide to halt student visa applicationstadaimages/Shutterstock

The countries were identified based on:

  • A perceived threat to US national security from their limited screening and vetting processes

  • A “disregard” for US immigration laws through high visa overstay rates

  • Presence of terrorist actors, including those sponsored by the state

  • An unwillingness to accept their removable nationals

Countries facing partial bans from June 9 include:

  • Burundi

  • Cuba

  • Laos

  • Sierra Leone

  • Togo

  • Turkmenistan

  • Venezuela

Are There Exceptions To The Ban?

Trump Travel Ban
Athletes from the banned countries travelling for the 2025 FIFA Men's Club World Cup are allowed to enter the USDelmiro Junior/Shutterstock

Both categories of travel-restricted countries have exemptions for certain people. These include:

  • Green card holders

  • Dual citizens, including US citizens who also have citizenship of one of the banned countries

  • Athletes and their coaches travelling to the US for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, the 2025 FIFA Men's Club World Cup, the 2028 Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the US Secretary of State

  • Afghans who worked for the US government or its allies in Afghanistan and are holders of Afghan special immigrant visas

  • Iranians belonging to an ethnic or religious minority who are fleeing prosecution

  • Certain foreign national employees of the US government who have served abroad for at least 15 years, and their spouses and children

  • People who were granted asylum or admitted to the US as refugees before the ban took effect

  • People with US family members who apply for visas in connection to their spouses, children or parents

  • Diplomats and foreign government officials on official visits

  • Those travelling to the United Nations headquarters in New York solely on official UN business

  • Representatives of international organisations and NATO on official visits in the US

  • Children adopted by US citizens.

How Is The 2025 Ban Different From The 2017 Travel Ban?

Trump Travel Ban
Protestors against the so-called "Muslim travel ban" in Boston, Massachusetts in 2017Hiram Rios/Shutterstock

Early in Trump’s first term, he issued an executive order banning travel to the US by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

It was regarded as one of the most chaotic and confusing moments of his presidency. Travellers from those nations were either barred from getting on flights to the US or detained at US airports after they landed. They included students and faculty, as well as businesspeople, tourists and people visiting friends and family.

The order, often referred to as the “Muslim ban” or the “travel ban,” was retooled amid legal challenges until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

(With inputs from multiple news reports)

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