Presidential Proclamation Upholds and Expands U.S. Travel Restrictions
Introduction
On Tuesday, Dec. 16, President Trump issued a proclamation that upholds and expands upon travel restrictions previously issued in June 2025. The original proclamation suspended and limited travel to the U.S. for citizens of 19 countries. The new proclamation adds countries to the list of those fully restricted from entering the U.S. and those partially restricted.
The proclamation fully suspends entry to the U.S. by nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, and adds Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
The proclamation limits entry to the U.S. by nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela, and adds Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Citizens of Turkmenistan may now enter the U.S. as nonimmigrants, but their suspension on entry as immigrants continues.
It is important to note that, similar to the original proclamation, the Dec. 16 proclamation only applies to nationals who are outside the U.S. and do not have a valid visa on the effective date. It does not apply to lawful permanent residents (i.e., green card holders) or nationals who are in the U.S. on the effective date (both with and without a valid visa), nor does it apply to nationals who are outside the U.S. with a valid visa.
While this proclamation does not impact the entire UIC international community, it does significantly affect certain members. The Office of International Services encourages anyone with questions about the proclamation or its impact on personal travel plans to email ois@uic.edu or connect with an OIS advisor as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that our office will be closed for winter break from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. However, if you experience an immigration-related emergency during this time, please utilize the OIS Emergency After Hours Contact to connect with an OIS representative.
The Office of International Services is committed to fostering a supportive environment for international students, scholars, and employees at UIC. We will continue to monitor these issues and all others affecting the UIC international community, providing updates as they become available.
Please note that the information shared in this message is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.