CAIR Issues Travel Warning as Trump Reportedly Readies New "Muslim Ban"
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a travel advisory on March 7, 2025, warning immigrants from majority-Muslim countries against departing the United States due to reports that President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new travel ban. This advisory follows information indicating that the ban could affect citizens of countries previously targeted during Trump's first term, including Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, and may also impact Afghans and Pakistanis.
According to CAIR, the Trump administration has set a deadline of March 21, 2025, for federal agencies to submit a report identifying countries with "deficient" visa vetting practices, which is expected to pave the way for a renewed travel ban. This action harkens back to Trump's original travel ban, which restricted entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries and was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
"We urge individuals, organizations, and allies to stand against this administration’s attempts to revive a Muslim Ban and weaponize immigration laws against political dissent," CAIR stated.
Potential Scope of the Ban
Reports indicate that Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to be included in the list of countries facing travel restrictions. The New York Times suggests that countries previously targeted during Trump's first term, such as Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, may also be part of the restrictions.
The inclusion of Afghanistan is particularly concerning, given the potential impact on thousands of Afghans who have been cleared for resettlement in the U.S. as refugees or through Special Immigrant Visas, as they face potential retaliation from the Taliban for their affiliation with the U.S. during the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan.
One source noted that Afghans approved for U.S. resettlement undergo rigorous screening processes, making them "more highly vetted than any population globally."
CAIR's Recommendations
In response to the reports, CAIR has issued a travel advisory, urging individuals from potentially affected countries to take precautionary steps. These include consulting an immigration attorney, avoiding international travel "unless necessary over the next 30 days, as re-entry may be denied if a new ban is enacted on March 21st," and keeping copies of all necessary travel and immigration documents.
CAIR advises immigrants who are legally present in the U.S. and citizens of one of the countries at risk of being banned to remain in the country and await further developments9.
Echoes of the 2017 Travel Ban
The anticipated ban recalls the travel ban from Trump’s initial term, which restricted entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries. That policy underwent numerous revisions before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump's initial travel ban, issued in 2017, sparked widespread protests and legal challenges. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld it in 2018 before President Joe Biden revoked it in 2021, describing it as "a stain on our national conscience."
The ACLU notes that the Muslim and African bans resulted in over 40,000 visa denials and a 94 percent decrease in Muslim refugee admissions from January to November 2017.
The Legal and Political Landscape
Trump's recent directive is part of a broader immigration enforcement initiative. He presented his strategy in an October 2023 address, vowing to restrict entry from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and "anywhere else that poses a threat to our security."
The specifics of the Trump administration’s immigration policy have been criticized as unconstitutional. While discussing pro-Palestinian student protests on Truth Social, President Trump stated, “Agitators will be imprisoned or permanently sent back to the country from which they came,” a statement that legal groups have labeled a violation of the 1st Amendment.
The Supreme Court's 2018 decision to uphold the travel ban in Trump v. Hawaii was controversial. In a 5-4 ruling, the court stated that the President possessed broad authority to suspend the entry of non-citizens into the country and that Trump's Presidential Proclamation 9645 did not exceed any textual limits on his authority.
International Response
Pakistani officials have indicated that they have not yet received any information through official channels and are waiting for formal policy notification before making any comments. Diplomatic sources in Washington report that the Trump administration is briefing Congress on the proposed move, which may be officially announced by next week.
As the March 21 deadline approaches, civil rights organizations and immigrant advocacy groups are getting ready for the possible implementation of a new travel ban. If the Trump administration proceeds with the policy, the weeks ahead will likely witness heightened legal challenges and public discussions.
Shawn VanDiver, leader of the #AfghanEvac coalition, urges visa holders to leave immediately.