On Friday, June 6, ISSS Director Martin McFarlane sent the following message to international students, faculty, staff, and scholars directly affected by the June 4 White House proclamation.
On Wednesday, June 4, the White House issued a proclamation that introduced entry restrictions for individuals from 19 countries, effective 12:01 EST June 9, 2025. We are contacting you directly as your country of citizenship is one of the 19 impacted.
If you are physically present in the U.S. when the proclamation becomes effective (11:01 PM Champaign time on Sunday, June 8), or if you are in possession of a valid entry visa at that time, then you are not subject to the restrictions in the proclamation. However, if you are outside the U.S. when the new rules go into effect, and do not have a valid U.S. entry visa, you will be prohibited from entering the country.
ISSS recommends making every attempt to be physically in the U.S. before the effective date of these travel restrictions. If this is not possible, and you are not in possession of a valid entry visa, we recommend that students contact their academic program, and staff and scholars contact their supervisor, to discuss program options that may be available.
Although those in the U.S. with valid visas should be considered exempt from this policy, it remains unknown how Customs and Border Patrol will administer entry under these new rules. We recommend exercising caution when planning international travel and making a personal assessment of the potential risks associated with attempting to re-enter the U.S. while your country of citizenship is subject to these restrictions.
We want to re-emphasize our understanding of the distress and anxiety this has created for all members of our international community, but especially for those from the 19 listed countries. You are a welcome, wanted, and essential part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
ISSS will continue to monitor developments around these restrictions and communicate any updates as quickly as possible.