U.S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
  • LANGUAGE OPTIONS


Travel ban targets 19 countries, including Afghanistan and Sudan

June 5, 2025

Today, the Administration rolled out travel restrictions targeting the citizens of nineteen countries.

Travelers from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are prohibited, with some exceptions. Meanwhile, there is a partial suspension on the issuance of certain visas, such as student exchange J visas, for the citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Many of the countries targeted by the list are experiencing an active conflict or humanitarian crisis. Women and girls in Afghanistan are silenced by the Taliban regime. Access to basic services has collapsed in Haiti, where gangs control large swathes of the country. Sudan is the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 10 million people forced from their homes because of the civil war. Myanmar is under military rule and continues to experience armed conflict and political instability, placing civilians—including the Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic and religious minority—at heightened risk of airstrikes, displacement, and ongoing persecution. The proposed travel ban would close critical legal pathways to the United States, leaving the victims of war and persecution with one fewer avenue for protection.

USCRI is concerned that the ban will pose a burden for the citizens of banned countries wanting to visit their American family members in the United States. We also recognize that the policy includes certain exemptions, such as a carveout for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, who bravely served the U.S. Government during our two decades fighting in Afghanistan, as well as persecuted religious and ethnic minorities from Iran.

“Today’s decision could compromise the lives of those seeking asylum in the United States,” said USCRI’s President and CEO, Eskinder Negash. “But we remain undeterred in our dedication to supporting those who need it most. Our commitment to advocating for refugees and immigrants from all walks of life is unwavering.”

 

USCRI, founded in 1911, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization committed to working on behalf of refugees and immigrants and their transition to a dignified life.

For press inquiries, please contact: [email protected]


Related Posts

Honoring World Refugee Day

In May of 1939, a boat of German Jews aboard the St. Louis plead for asylum in the United States....

READ FULL STORY

Termination of TPS for Cameroon...

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroon (published June 4, effective...

READ FULL STORY

A Legacy of Welcome: Honoring...

Representative Gerry Connolly was a lifelong public servant, a steadfast advocate for human rights, and a tireless champion for refugees,...

READ FULL STORY