Trump Suspends Entry to US for Venezuelans With Tourist, Business, and Student Visas

President Donald Trump has suspended entry into the United States for Venezuelans with tourist, business, student, and cultural exchange visas, in addition to suspending or restricting entry for citizens of 11 other countries.

“Venezuela lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents, and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures,” the president wrote in a June 4 proclamation.

The White House said that the country has historically refused to accept its deported citizens and that B-1/B-2 visas granted to its citizens have an overstay rate of 9.8 percent according to the Overstay Report.

“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” Trump said in a video statement after announcing this executive order.

Since 1999, Venezuela has been ruled by a socialist regime currently led by Nicolás Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez after the latter’s death in 2013. The regime has been criticized for severe human rights violations.

The executive order excluded legal permanent residents of the United States, dual nationals, and passport holders from nonrestricted countries.

Athletes and others affiliated with sports teams, including coaches, participating in major sporting events, as determined by the U.S. secretary of state, will also be exempt.

The ban takes effect on June 9.

The order also provides that within 90 days, and every 180 days thereafter, the secretary of state must submit a report to the president with his assessment and recommendations on whether the measure should continue or be terminated, modified, or supplemented.

This follows the Trump administration’s decision to cancel temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelans, which was announced earlier in 2025.

TPS is an immigration status granted to foreign nationals residing in the United States who come from countries with conditions that temporarily prevent their safe return to their home countries.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Feb. 1, 2025, that she was ending the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuelans under the Biden administration—the measure was set to expire on April 7. The Supreme Court in a May 19 ruling granted an emergency stay of a California district court’s March 31 order barring the action.

A ruling on the government’s appeal of the district court’s order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is now pending.

The initial 2021 TPS designation for approximately 250,000 Venezuelans remains in effect until Sept. 10, 2025.

Yeny Sora Robles contributed to this report.