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New York, NY, June 5, 2025 —  The ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) is seriously concerned that the Trump administration’s  imposing a new Travel Ban will inhumanely and unjustly separate families from their loved ones and prevent people fleeing crisis and conflict from reaching safety in the US. The ban, which is slated to take effect on June 9, 2025, will suspend the entry of citizens from twelve countries and significantly restrict entry of those from seven others on the basis of their nationality. 

This travel ban will apply to many people who have been forced from their homes by conflict or persecution, including those from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen. Several of these countries are on ̽����ѡ’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist of countries most at risk of new or worsening humanitarian emergencies including Sudan (#1), Myanmar (#3), Haiti (#8), Somalia (#10), Afghanistan, Chad, and Yemen.

While the ban provides specific exceptions for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders and certain persecuted minorities from Iran, it will exclude the arrival of most others from the listed countries, including the family members of refugees and people granted asylum who are already in the US, and does not have a waiver for urgent humanitarian circumstances. 

This action will have far-reaching impacts, both in the US and abroad: preventing American families from reunifying with their loved ones, including the spouses and children of permanent residents, and could leave persecuted religious minorities and other refugees in danger. It is a further retreat from American humanitarian values following on the heels of the issued on January 20, 2025 indefinitely halting resettlement.

Hans Van de Weerd, ̽����ѡ’s Senior Vice President, Resettlement, Asylum & Integration, said, “The administration's action to ban certain nationalities from the United States is discriminatory and harmful. This proclamation bans people from some of the most fragile and conflict-affected countries in the world. Refugees and immigrants are not a threat to US security or the economy—in fact, they make key social, economic and cultural contributions to US communities.

"At a moment when the world faces the largest refugee crisis on record, resettlement and other pathways to safety are needed more now than ever. Continuing to be a land of refuge and a place of freedom is consistent with core American values and traditions. The ̽����ѡ remains steadfast in our commitment to provide refugees, asylum seekers, and other newcomers to America, including our clients in the US whose loved ones will be excluded under this order,  with accurate information, legal representation, workforce development and other support they need to thrive and continue to contribute to their new communities.”