(WASHINGTON, DC – 3/6/2025) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued an updated travel advisory warning lawful permanent residents, students, workers and other immigrants legally present in the United States to avoid leaving the country over the next 30 days if they are citizens of countries that may be listed in President Trump’s expected new travel ban.
Potential countries targeted by the new ban could include Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine/Gaza, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or any other country.
SEE: New Trump travel ban could bar Afghans, Pakistanis soon, sources say
The Trump administration has set March 21, 2025, as the deadline for federal agencies to submit a report to the White House identifying countries with “deficient” visa vetting practices whose citizens should be banned from travel to the United States. Mandated by Executive Order 14161, “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” this report is expected to pave the way for a renewed travel ban, potentially affecting nationals from multiple Muslim-majority countries.
In a webinar on Feb. 27, CAIR warned immigrants who are citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine/Gaza, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen not to travel from the United States until the administration announces the new travel ban. In response to media reports that Pakistan may be included in a new travel ban, CAIR is now extending its warning to immigrants who are nationals of Pakistan.
CAIR’s warning applies to students, workers, tourists and medical patients here on visas, as well as lawful permanent residents. Although lawful permanent residents have extensive legal protections that should protect their right to enter and exit the country, the first Trump administration attempted to ban lawful permanent residents in its original 2017 Muslim Ban, which was blocked by courts. It is unclear whether the administration will attempt to do so again.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR encouraged community members to watch or rewatch its Feb. 27th webinar detailing the impact of a potential new Muslim travel ban and increased immigration security on American Muslims and other travelers. The webinar offers community members, immigrants and potential travelers guidance about how to protect their legal rights.
VIDEO: VIEW CAIR’S RECORDED WEBINAR
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Due to the risk that the Trump administration will announce a new Muslim travel ban this month, we advise any lawful permanent residents and foreign students, workers, medical patients, refugees, and tourists who are citizens of countries that may be targeted not to leave the United States over the next 30 days unless it is necessary to do so.
“Although we do not know for sure whether the administration will issue a new ban or which countries would be targeted, we encourage immigrants in the United States who are citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine/Gaza, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen to avoid international travel until the administration’s deadline for a new ban passes. This can help ensure that you are not trapped overseas and banned from the United States if a ban comes into effect before your return trip.
“We encourage the Trump administration to reconsider any plans to impose any new total travel bans on Muslim-majority countries under the guise of protecting national security, including bans that target those who have already attained legal status in the United States. Our nation already subjects immigrants from global hot spots to extreme scrutiny and it makes no sense to impose a total ban on any and all immigrants simply because of their country of birth.”
CAIR’s Preemptive Recommendations
Given these developments, and the risk that an executive order could attempt to target lawful permanent residents in ways similar to the very first travel ban signed in 2017 and blocked by courts, CAIR advises potentially impacted people inside the United States to take the following steps:
- Consult an Immigration Attorney – if you are a citizen of a country at high risk of being included in a future travel ban, seek legal counsel to review your immigration status and discuss your rights.
- Avoid International Travel – If you are a citizen of a potentially listed country, do not leave the United States unless absolutely necessary over the next 30 days, as re-entry may be denied if a new ban is enacted on March 21st.
- Keep Copies of Your Documents – Maintain physical and electronic copies of all important travel and immigration documents in a secure and accessible location to ensure you have evidence of your status readily available.
- Stay Informed and Know Your Rights – Familiarize yourself with your legal rights in case of encounters with immigration authorities. CAIR has released a new ‘Know Your Rights’ guide specifically addressing interactions with ICE agents, which provides essential information on how to protect yourself during such encounters.
President Trump’s first wave of executive orders also directed the federal law enforcement to investigate immigrants already legally present in the United States based on their activism and ideological views. This directive raises serious concerns about potential political targeting, surveillance, and visa revocations for those engaged in activism or political dissent.
According to the executive order, the DOJ is authorized to take “relevant actions or activities” against individuals from identified countries, a broad and vague directive that could:
- Lead to increased surveillance of lawful residents, visa holders, and students.
- Result in denials of visa renewals, residency applications, and naturalization requests.
- Enable deportation proceedings against immigrants accused of holding “hostile attitudes” or engaging in “anti-American” speech.
This provision raises significant concerns about potential abuse—particularly for individuals involved in human rights activism, advocacy for Palestinian rights, or criticism of U.S. foreign policy.
CAIR is committed to protecting civil rights, challenging discriminatory immigration policies, and opposing efforts to suppress free speech. 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.
For further information or to report an incident, contact CAIR’s Civil Rights Department by filling out this form: Report an incident.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
