What does the President’s proclamation of June 4, 2025 do?

The proclamation issued by President Trump on June 4, imposes a travel ban that restricts the entry of foreign nationals, either fully or partially, to the U.S. from a specific set of countries. From Latin America and the Caribbean there are three countries included in the travel ban: Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela. This measure applies to foreign nationals of the designated countries who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not hold a valid visa by then (June 9, 2025).

The measure was justified on the basis that it will allegedly protect national security and the U.S.’ national interests. However, it is disproportionate and discriminatory, banning the entry into the country of individuals solely based upon their nationality with few exceptions. The measure particularly targets people in countries with high levels of insecurity and unrest, denying them the ability to access protections in the U.S., be reunited with their family members, or visit, work or study in the country.

In Executive Order 14161 of January 20, 2025 (Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats), the President had stated that “it is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.” Under that order, Trump had instructed the Secretary of State, in coordination with other authorities, to provide a report identifying countries with deficient vetting and screening information. That report was presented to the President on April 9, 2025 with recommendations that led to the said proclamation. A travel ban had been imposed under the first Trump administration and upheld by the Supreme Court.

What is the difference between a full and a partial travel restriction?

A full travel ban completely restricts entry from a specific country, barring both immigrants and non-immigrants, except for a few exceptions established in the proclamation. A partial restriction, on the other hand, limits travel to specific visa types, such as those for business, tourism, or study, but does not prevent entirely the entry of people with these nationalities.

What does the proclamation say about Haitians, Cubans and Venezuelans in particular?

Haitians

In the proclamation, the President justified the inclusion of Haiti by claiming that “hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens flooded into the United States during the Biden Administration,” which, according to the text, created threats to national security. As a result, the entry of Haitian nationals into the United States is fully suspended for both immigrants and nonimmigrants.

Cubans

Cuba is subject to partial travel restrictions under the proclamation. The President cited several reasons for this decision, including Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, its alleged failure to adequately cooperate with U.S. law enforcement, and its historical refusal to accept back its nationals who are subject to removal. Consequently, the entry of Cuban nationals as immigrants, as well as nonimmigrants traveling on B-1 (business), B-2 (tourist), B-1/B-2, F (student), M (technical studies), and J (exchange program) visas, is suspended. In addition, consular officers are instructed to limit the validity period of all other nonimmigrant visas issued to Cuban citizens.

Venezuelans

Venezuela’s inclusion in the proclamation is based on concerns over the country’s lack of a functioning or cooperative central authority for issuing civil documents and passports, as well as insufficient screening and vetting procedures. The text also notes that Venezuela has refused to accept the return of its nationals, despite more than 5,900 Venezuelans having been deported between January and June 2025. As a result, just as in the case of Cubans, Venezuelan nationals are barred from entering the United States as immigrants and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. Similar to Cuba, consular officers must also reduce the validity period of all other nonimmigrant visas granted to Venezuelan nationals.

What are the exceptions applicable?

The proclamation does include several categories of individuals who are exempt from the restrictions, like lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and dual nationals travelling with a passport from a non-restricted country. Additionally, travelers from the listed countries holding valid visas issued before June 9, 2025, are exempt, with the proclamation explicitly stating that “no immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date of this proclamation shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.”

Individuals who have already been granted asylum, refugee status, or protection under the Convention Against Torture are also exempted from the restrictions. However, it is important to remember that all refugee resettlement has been indefinitely suspended by an executive order and the Safe Mobility Offices opened in Latin America have ceased to exist. There are serious limitations for people from these countries with international protection needs, especially those outside the country or without a valid visa issued before June 9.

Other exemptions include athletes or members of athletic teams participating in major international sporting events such as the World Cup (2026) or the Olympics (2028), provided their travel is approved by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State or the Attorney General may authorize exceptions on a case-by-case basis and at their discretion if it is determined to be in the national interest. Other specific exceptions are listed in Section 4 of the proclamation.

What are the conditions like for Haitian, Cuban and Venezuelan nationals?

All three countries from Latin America and the Caribbean included in the travel ban have dire humanitarian conditions and face serious setbacks to democracy or rule of law. The Trump administration has condemned violence and human rights violations in Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela; yet, the travel ban will have tremendous impacts on the population fleeing those countries. Also, the visas restricted under this measure give opportunities to talented students and professionals to come to the U.S. and contribute with culture, knowledge, and resources.

Venezuela faces a complex humanitarian emergency and there is a policy of political persecution leading to well documented serious human rights violations. It is especially important to consider how isolated Venezuelans are and the restrictions on their mobility. The Venezuelan passport is amongst the most expensive passports in the world (USD $216 in a country in which the minimum wage is $1.48 under the official exchange rate). The country does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the U.S., nor direct flights there and more than 60 countries require visas for Venezuelans. In the case of Panama or Dominican Republic for example, countries through which Venezuelans can travel to other places, they require having a valid U.S. visa to transit through the country. Complying with that requirement will now be impossible for those without a valid U.S. visa. Despite the Trump administration’s support for democratic forces in Venezuela and the recognition of the dangerous conditions in that country, humanitarian parole and temporary protective status have been terminated, leaving many Venezuelans in the U.S. unprotected.

Haiti is facing a severe political, humanitarian, and security crisis. In 2021, mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moïse spiralling the country into chaos. With the collapse of state authority leaving a power vacuum, armed gangs have taken de facto control of over ninety percent of Port au Prince. The Kenyan led multinational force and Haitian national police have failed to restore order. Haitians, already hard hit by natural disasters and poor governance, are living in fear and uncertainty. Over one million persons are internally displaced, sexual violence is on the rise, and 5.7 million require humanitarian assistance. The situation is compounded by the mass deportations coming in from the Dominican Republic, as well as the Trump administration’s cancelation of humanitarian parole and end of temporary protected status for Haitians. Even those fleeing life-threatening conditions may now find it nearly impossible to seek protection in the U.S.

In Cuba, chronic shortages of food, medicine, and fuel- compounded by U.S. sanctions and the inclusion of Cuba on the state sponsor of terrorism list—along with intensified repression of dissent—have created conditions of deep hardship and uncertainty. The inclusion of Cuba in the U.S. partial travel ban risks shutting down legal pathways for people to leave the island, especially following the cancellation of access to the humanitarian parole program, which had offered one of the few options for safe and legal migration.

Is this measure subject to change?

While the Executive branch is granted a wide margin of discretionality regarding immigration policy, such discretionality is not absolute. Courts can review decisions made, to ensure they are not arbitrary, capricious or unconstitutional. During the first Trump administration a travel ban was also imposed and struck down two times by the courts until the third version was finally upheld by the Supreme Court. Some legal analysts believe the current travel ban was written in such a way that it will be harder to block in court.

However, changes may still be made to the restrictions. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, must to submit a report to the President within 90 days of the date of this proclamation, and every 6 months thereafter, describing their assessment and recommending whether any suspensions and limitations imposed should be continued, terminated, modified, or supplemented.

What should the U.S. and other countries in the region do?

To respond to this discriminatory ban, which impacts the ability of some of the most vulnerable people in the world to be able to access protection in the United States, and will exacerbate family separations, amongst other measures, the U.S. Congress should consider amending the relevant provision (Section 212(f)) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that grants the President authority to impose travel restrictions. Such an amendment should require the executive branch to present clear evidence justifying the restriction, consult with Congress before its implementation, and provide regular reports on its impact.

Likewise, countries that currently require a valid U.S. visa for certain nationals in order to enter —such as Panama and the Dominican Republic, which apply this requirement to Venezuelans—should consider withdrawing these restrictions to avoid compounding the burdens faced by affected individuals.

Finally, authorities in the U.S. and throughout the region should avoid using dehumanizing or discriminatory language when discussing immigration. Rather than curtailing legal pathways for migration they should commit to upholding the principles of equality and non-discrimination, taking active steps to ensure that no one is treated unfairly on the basis of their nationalities or race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics.