Tuesday Immigration Update

Expansion of the Travel Ban: Details and Development

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation enforcing a travel ban on nationals from 12 countries, with partial restrictions on 7 more.  The order, effective June 9, 2025, cited national security concerns and marked a major expansion of prior travel ban policies. While existing visas were not revoked, the ban immediately restricted new visa issuance and travel for thousands of people worldwide.

What Has Changed Since June

• Travel ban scope clarified. Proclamation 10949 applies to individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen (full bans), with partial restrictions on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Coverage applies primarily to those outside the U.S. without a valid visa as of June 9.
• Higher education fallout accelerating. NAFSA projects a 15% drop in international enrollment for 2025–26 if restrictions remain in place—an economic hit of $7B and nearly 50,000 U.S. jobs lost. International students previously contributed $43.8B and 378,000+ jobs in 2023–24.
• American Immigration Council update (Aug. 6). The expanded ban risks $715M in annual tax contributions and $2.5B in spending power from immigrants affected by the policy, with ripple effects in tech, healthcare, and research.
• Labor market & inflation concerns. Economists warn that tighter labor inflows could worsen workforce shortages in agriculture, healthcare, and services—potentially fueling inflationary pressures.
• Overstay data challenged. NFAP notes that DHS overstay estimates—used to justify the ban—may overcount due to status changes or unrecorded departures, raising questions about the policy’s basis.

Sector Impacts to Watch

• Universities: Visa delays could cause up to a 40% drop in new international students this fall, forcing some institutions to cut programs or staff.
• Tech & Research: Employers report slowed hiring from banned countries, with some shifting to remote teams or offshore hubs.
• Healthcare: Hospitals already facing nursing shortages may lose key recruitment pipelines from affected nations.

What You Can Do Now

1. Check eligibility: Confirm whether travelers were inside the U.S. on June 9 or held a valid visa at that time.
2. Update forecasts: Universities and employers should recalculate staffing and enrollment models using NAFSA’s state-level impact data.
3. Plan contingencies: Explore remote start options, alternate duty stations, or cap-exempt visa strategies.

Places to stay updated:

Resource

What You Get

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​American Immigration Council

Analysis and economic impact studies on the 2025 travel ban and proposed expansions

Link

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https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/

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USCIS Newsroom

Official updates on immigration policies, notices, and procedural changes ​

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom

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Department of State – Travel Advisories

Country-specific security and entry guidance—especially relevant for current visa holders

https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html

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Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

Contextual articles on foreign policy implications of U.S. immigration shifts

https://www.cfr.org/

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AILA

Provides legal advocacy, client-facing alerts, and policy critiques

https://www.aila.org/

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How We Help​

At the Law Office of Julia L. Stommes, we track immigration policy changes in real time. Whether your travel, visa plans, or family reunification might be affected, we offer proactive updates and legal counsel to help you adapt.

Need personalized advice or strategic planning?

Reach out to us at [email protected] to ensure you stay informed and ready for what comes next.