Cuba and Venezuela Included in Trump's Middle-East Travel Ban

President Donald Trump recently imposed a travel moratorium on several Middle Eastern countries plus Cuba and Venezuela. 

President Trump justified the travel ban by arguing that the countries included fail to cooperate with the US government’s immigration proceedings.

The travel ban includes blanket prohibition on all immigrants from 12 states and partial prohibitions on immigrants from another 7. 

As of June 9, 2025, all immigration to the US from the following states, whether it be permanent or temporary, will be prohibited: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Also included in the blanket travel ban is Haiti, which is approaching a state of anarchy as violent gangs increase control of its territory. 

Additionally, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face less restrictive bans. 

Trump explained the travel ban was executed after consultations with cabinet officials, including State Secretary Marco Rubio, who “have recommended certain conditional restrictions and limitations.”

Cuba and Venezuela, whose public institutions both suffer from autocratic control, have reportedly failed to cooperate with the US’s law enforcement and immigration authorities. 

Under the travel ban, Cuban and Venezuelan citizens are prohibited from attaining tourist (B‑1), business tourist (B-2, B-1/B-2), and any student or exchange visitor visas. 

Cubans and Venezuelans with Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) will still be allowed to travel to the US. 

"We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” said Trump as he announced the travel ban. 

However, the travel ban extends an olive branch to countries listed, as it promises to lift visa restrictions once countries improve their cooperation with the US. 

“I remain committed to engaging with those countries willing to cooperate to improve information-sharing and identity-management procedures, and to address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks,” reads Trump’s travel ban order. 

“But until countries with identified inadequacies address them, members of my Cabinet have recommended certain conditional restrictions and limitations.”