concise summary of the proclamation “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” June 9, 2025
Here’s a concise summary of the proclamation
Purpose
- The President finds that inadequate vetting, identity-management, and information-sharing by certain foreign governments create national‑security and public‑safety risks.
- To protect the United States, suspensions and restrictions on entry are imposed for nationals of specified countries under INA §212(f).
Countries affected
- Full suspension (immigrant and nonimmigrant entry): Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
- Partial suspension (immigrant and certain nonimmigrant categories — B, F, M, J — and reduced visa validity for other nonimmigrants): Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
Scope and who is affected
- Applies to nationals of the listed countries who are outside the U.S. on the effective date and who do NOT hold a valid visa on June 9, 2025.
- Does NOT apply to: U.S. lawful permanent residents; dual nationals traveling on a passport of a non‑designated country; holders of certain diplomatic or official visas (A, G, C-2/C-3, NATO categories); certain humanitarian and specific immigrant categories (e.g., IR immediate relatives with clear proof, some special immigrant visas, ethnic/religious minority immigrant visas from Iran); people already granted asylum, refugee status, withholding, or CAT protection.
Exceptions and waivers
- Case‑by‑case national‑interest exceptions may be granted by the Secretary of State or Attorney General (for DOJ‑related critical interests), in coordination with DHS.
- The proclamation allows certain narrow humanitarian and other category exceptions (adoptions, some special immigrant visas, immediate-relative immigrant visas with strong proof).
Implementation, review, and removal
- The Secretary of State (with DOJ, DHS, DNI) must review and engage affected countries and report within 90 days and every 180 days thereafter on whether restrictions should continue, be modified, or removed.
- The proclamation directs engagement to improve information-sharing and identity-management and ties removal of restrictions to demonstrated cooperation.
Practical effects
- New visa issuances and consular processing for affected nationals will be suspended or limited per category; applicants will often need to apply in third countries if consular services are unavailable in their home country.
- Enhanced screening, administrative processing, and potential longer delays for applicants from affected countries.
- Existing valid visas issued before the effective date are not revoked under this proclamation.
Legal and policy notes
- The proclamation cites INA §212(f) authority; it distinguishes immigrant vs. nonimmigrant risks and emphasizes national‑security rationale.
- Specific factual bases relied upon are partly classified; the proclamation contemplates potential legal checks and procedural adjustments.
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