President Trump signed a travel ban on Wednesday that prohibits citizens of 12 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, from entering the United States, but there are some exceptions to the expansive order.
The ban, which goes into effect on Monday, bars travel to the United States by citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. And it limits travel from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Here are some of the exemptions:
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Green card holders: People with green cards — individuals who have a pathway to U.S. citizenship — are exempted from the ban. When a travel ban was introduced by Mr. Trump during his first term in 2017, chaos and confusion ensued at airports. The Department of Homeland Security had to put out a statement clarifying that green card holders could enter the country. This time, the administration is making that exemption clear in the order itself.
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Dual citizens: People who are American citizens but also hold citizenship with a banned country are exempt under the order.
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Those seeking visas through connections to U.S. family members: Immigrants from the banned countries who seek visas through connections to their spouses, children, or parents who are American citizens will still be able to apply for them.
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Certain athletes: Athletes and coaches traveling to the United States to play in major sporting events, along with their families, will still be allowed into the country, despite the ban. The United States is one of the hosts of the World Cup in 2026, and Los Angeles is the site of the Summer Olympics in 2028. This exception will allow soccer players from targeted countries, like Iran, to enter the United States for the World Cup.
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Refugees granted asylum: Those who have been admitted as refugees or were granted asylum are exempted under the order.
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Afghans who helped the U.S.: The order exempts Afghans who seek to enter the U.S. under a special visa program for those helped the U.S. government during the two decades of war after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
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Iranians fleeing religious persecution: Iranians who are escaping the country because they belong to a religious minority, like Christianity, are also exempted.
