ByStuart Anderson,
Senior Contributor.
The Trump administration will allow 17 Iranians with visas to enter the United States to address an immigration lawsuit challenging the president’s proclamation banning entry by individuals from multiple countries. The administration may have acted to “moot” an appeal to the ban and the State Department’s policy of refusing to issue visas to nationals of the countries listed in the proclamation.
On June 4, 2025, Donald Trump issued a proclamation banning immigrant and temporary visas from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Iran and others. The proclamation contained more extensive prohibitions for seven of the 19 countries. A Dec. 16 proclamation expanded the visa categories for the 19 countries and denied the entry of individuals from 20 additional nations.
On June 6, the State Department sent guidance to consular posts that stated any applicants “must be refused” a visa if they are subject to the June 4 proclamation and not qualified for one of the proclamation’s limited exceptions.
