On Monday, December 4th, the Supreme Court allowed the latest version of President Trump’s travel ban to go into effect. With this decision, travel restrictions from eight designated countries can now be fully enforced. Most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, North Korea, and some from Venezuela, will be barred from entering the United States. Restrictions vary by country, but the majority will be prevented from entering the U.S. permanently, working, studying, or in some cases, vacationing.
Like the prior versions of the ban, restrictions do not apply to people already holding visas, making it unlikely that said travelers would be blocked at the border. Although narrower than its predecessors, the new ban is also indefinite, meaning that the affected countries may very well remain on the list for as long as the ban is enforced.
Advocates against the ban have filed lawsuits to challenge it in the 9th and 4th Circuit. The 9th Circuit panel and full 4th Circuit appeals court are expected to deliver opinions within the coming weeks, which would give those opposed to the ban an opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court and get the case heard during the current term, ending in June 2018. For more information, please contact an immigration attorney to find out how these developments may affect you.