What the Trump Travel Ban Means for EB-5 Investors

In January 2025, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order mandating a thorough review of U.S. travel regulations and immigration policy, citing national security concerns. The new order and related directives may affect dozens of countries, with varying restrictions to reflect each country’s perceived threat level.

Although not fully implemented at the time of writing, the administration has revoked visas for some international students, paused visa appointments for others, and identified certain countries for travel restrictions. Many investors and visa holders under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program are worried about these actions and the potential for similar follow-on measures in the future.

In this article, we’ll explain what we know so far about the executive order and related statements, what they mean for investors and Green Card holders from affected countries, and where prospective EB-5 investors can go for help.

What Is Trump’s Travel Ban?

In 2025, the second Trump administration is working to revitalize and expand upon travel ban proposals from the first Trump administration in 2017. The White House has claimed that these travel bans are meant to enhance U.S. national security by restricting the entry of selected foreign nationals.

What Was the 2017 Travel Ban?

In January 2017, Trump issued Executive Order 13769, which included the following features:

• Suspended the entry to the United States of foreign nationals from Muslim majority countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen for 90 days. Syria was to be subjected to an indefinite travel ban.
• Restricted refugee admissions for fiscal year 2017. Such admissions were to decrease from 110,000 during the preceding year to 50,000.
• Suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection received little guidance on enforcing the ban, and the orders also soon faced significant legal challenges. For example, in February 2017, a Federal District Court in Seattle issued a restraining order prohibiting the implementation of the travel ban. Later that month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision.

In response, the White House revised its plans. Trump’s second travel ban targeted only six countries and exempted those who already had visas or Green Cards. He replaced Executive Order 13769 with Executive Order 13780 and Presidential Proclamation 9645.

By September 2017, the Trump administration had adjusted its list of affected countries, extended the duration of travel bans, and divided foreign nationals into immigration categories. Banned countries on the third version included Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela.

In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban. However, President Biden revoked Trump’s related executive actions in 2021.

How Is the 2025 Travel Ban Different?

The second Trump administration has renewed its pursuit of travel bans, this time potentially affecting foreign nationals from over 40 countries. The 2025 travel ban proposal comes with stricter criteria and a broader scope than its predecessors. In January 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14161, “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which contains the following key provisions:

• Modified the visa-issuance process to identify threats to U.S. national interests and ensure those already admitted to the United States do not hold hostile attitudes toward the country, do not support threats to national security, and do not exploit immigration laws for malign purposes.
• Enhanced screening and vetting across federal agencies, returning to standards and procedures from the first Trump administration.
• Directed the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence to pursue additional measures to ensure the safety and security of the American people and republic. These include evaluating all visa programs to ensure other nations or actors do not use them to harm the national interests of the United States.

During the spring of 2025, a color-coded tiered system to categorize countries by their perceived threat level also appeared to be under consideration. Travel restrictions would vary between the three tiers, as follows, though at the time of writing, an official admission was still pending.

• Red: Citizens of these countries would face a complete ban on entering the United States.
• Orange: Citizens of these countries would be subjected to restrictive visa policies and required in-person interviews.
• Yellow: These countries would be required to address claimed security deficiencies within 60 days or be moved to a more restrictive tier.

On June 4, 2025, the White House issued a new proclamation to restrict the entry of certain foreign nationals for national security and public safety reasons. It specifically cited problems with screening, vetting, information-sharing, visa overstays, and connections to terrorism in the countries identified for travel restrictions.

The White House declared that citizens of the following 12 countries would be denied entry to the United States entirely under immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories: Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

In addition, individuals from the following seven countries would be denied entry to the United States on immigrant and non-immigrant B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

As of June 9, 2025, the travel ban is in full effect, although it may be challenged further in the courts.

What the Trump Travel Ban Means for EB-5 Green Card Holders

It’s understandable that some EB-5 visa holders are concerned, as the new travel ban also comes at a time of intensified White House criticism of the EB-5 program and calls to overhaul current immigration policy.

Nearly All EB-5 Green Card Holders Are Safe

However, current EB-5 Green Card holders are likely to be exempt from the travel ban. Green Card holders have procedural rights. Only a federal judge can revoke their immigration status, and this happens rarely. Law-abiding Green Card holders who have not left the United States for extended periods and have maintained their lawful permanent residency have little to worry about.

In addition, President Trump’s proclamation from June 4, 2025, specifically mentions exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests.

Potential Difficulties

Some Green Card holders might experience the following challenges:

• Difficulty reentering the United States: EB-5 Green Card holders from countries identified on the latest travel ban might find it difficult to re-enter the United States after international travel, even if they have valid visa stamps.
• Visa renewal challenges: Renewing a visa might be more complicated, and some who are on the full ban list may be denied altogether.

What the Trump Travel Ban Means for EB-5 Applicants

Fortunately, the EB-5 program is still available for applicants from most countries. However, foreign nationals from countries identified on the complete ban list may not be eligible for approval under any U.S. visa category, immigrant or non-immigrant.

Those from countries subjected to travel restrictions could find that their I-526E immigrant petitions are left on hold or rejected. They may also face greater scrutiny and longer wait times while their petitions are processed.

What Should EB-5 Applicants and Green Card Holders Do?

If you’re an EB-5 visa applicant, you’ll want to give serious consideration to doing the following things to maximize your chances of getting a Green Card.

• Review immigration plans if you’re from a targeted country: Foreign investors who belong to countries targeted for full travel bans should review their immigration plans.
• Minimize international travel: Citizens who are applying for an EB-5 visa from listed countries should avoid international travel. Green Card holders from those countries should get legal advice before traveling.
• File swiftly: Applicants from these countries should submit Form I-526E and file for Green Cards as soon as possible. Legal delays may give foreign investors a better chance of gaining their Green Cards before travel restrictions enter into force.
• Ensure robust documentation: Investors from nations subject to partial restrictions will still have their documentation thoroughly scrutinized by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Applicants must ensure the documents they submit are accurate and complete. Any missing information or errors could lead to time-consuming delays, requests for information or evidence, or even denials.
• Monitor the situation: The list of affected countries may expand during scheduled 180-day reviews, so applicants from at-risk regions should act quickly and stay informed to avoid future restrictions. Follow the news for potential changes to government regulations and get advice from an immigration attorney.

Working With EB5AN Can Help You Get a Green Card Faster

It may already be too late for some nationals from the 12 countries on the complete travel ban list to be approved for visas in the U.S. However, certain exceptions may apply. Speak with an immigration attorney if you are unsure about how to proceed.

If you’re a foreign national from one of the other countries identified for partial travel restrictions, you must act fast for the best chance of getting an EB-5 Green Card. Try to stay ahead of any new ban or other potential restrictions entering into force.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program has a strong, decades-long track record of delivering U.S. Green Cards. Contact a reputable EB-5 investment firm for advice on how to secure Green Cards for yourself and your family members.

EB5AN has helped more than 2,700 families from 70+ countries relocate to the United States as lawful permanent residents. Our expert team has more than a decade of experience, and offers clients first-rate, low-risk EB-5 regional center projects with a 100% USCIS project approval rate to date.

To learn more about how to become an EB-5 Green Card holder, book a free call with us today.