How News Sources Portray Travel Ban Policies
This chart shows how major news sources across the ideological spectrum frame travel ban policies, from left to right-leaning perspectives.
New travel bans from the Trump Administration restricting entry into the U.S. have become a highly partisan topic. Media bias has exacerbated the polarization of many issues, as more people are susceptible to biased news. As of July 2025, the travel bans have become the subject of debate due to new extensions and additions to the travel ban list. Many countries face restricted or fully banned entry into the U.S. after executive orders from President Trump.
The U.S. travel ban refers to President Trump’s executive order to inhibit the travel and refugee resettlement of people from certain nations. It limits immigration to the U.S. from several high-risk countries and was proposed/implemented during the Trump Administration. The travel ban is a largely partisan and highly polarizing issue – most Republicans approve of the ban, while most Democrats disapprove of it. Of all Americans, 59% disapprove of the ban, while 38% approve of it.
Stances on the Travel Ban
Republicans are largely in support of limiting and banning travel from high-risk countries. According to a 2017 Pew Study, 81% of Republicans approve of some policies to stop refugees and to prevent people from majority Muslim countries from entering the U.S, and 16% disapprove. However, according to a 2022 Pew Study, 58% of Republicans support taking in civilian refugees trying to escape violence and war. And, 51% would like to make it easier to sponsor family members to immigrate to the U.S. In their foreign policy post-9/11 under the Bush Administration, more Republicans favored restricting travel, particularly from countries that were susceptible to terrorism (according to the government), to protect the U.S. from another terrorist attack.
Democrats generally oppose the travel ban, with 89% disapproving of policies that prevent refugees and people from majority Muslim countries from entering the U.S., and 9% approve of it. Democrats mainly disapprove of the ban due to its emphasis on Muslim countries, and they contend that these bans are unfairly religion- and ethnicity-based. These data are virtually flipped from Republicans – the percentage of Republicans who support it (81%) is quite similar to Democrats who oppose it (89%) and vice versa.
U.S. Policy on Immigration
The U.S. immigration policy varies from year to year, with immigration being a highly partisan topic. For example, Republicans tend to enforce stricter immigration policies and advocate for closed borders, whereas Democrats generally prefer open borders and have more lenient immigration policies.
The Trump Administration has acted quickly on its campaign immigration promises, including aggressively and efficiently pursuing the removal of noncitizens, limiting access to humanitarian forms of relief, and closing the southern border. Republicans are largely in support of stricter border control and of tightening border control to limit immigration into the U.S. Republicans (82%) strongly endorse the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Outside of the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump fully suspended travel from the following 12 countries in 2025: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Some were due to the presence of the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, others were because many of the people from these countries tended to overstay their visas. This became the forerunner of Trump’s foreign policy.
Stances on Foreign Policy
The Republican Party often emphasizes that international activity should promote American economic, security, and cultural interests. Republicans emphasize a strong military that can serve as a deterrent and solution to foreign threats, as opposed to peacekeeping and nation-building. Currently, they stress the importance of border security and deporting illegal immigrants.
The Democratic Party generally emphasizes international cooperation, diplomacy, human rights, and the promotion of democracy. They advocate for active U.S. engagement in global affairs and view negotiation and diplomacy as the primary tools for resolving international conflicts. Democrats often promote the importance of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They seek to have multiple allies with other countries and deeply value relationships with allies.
The Green Party supports and advocates for democracy and self-determination worldwide. They believe that U.S. foreign policy should also promote the self-sufficiency and self-determination of other nations, rather than prioritizing the security of American business abroad and the retention of military bases. They denounce American international business, as it often takes advantage of countries that are not as strong and influential as the U.S. is. Greens believe in policies that are consistent with participatory democracy and global responsibility.
The Travel Ban’s Effect on the Economy
Travel bans can negatively affect the economy, as they reduce tourism, trade, and working-age people. Tourism greatly decreases with the presence of travel bans, which harms industries or locations that rely on tourism as income. Hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and transportation are some industries that would be negatively affected by the implementation of travel bans. Major cities and destinations, such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and popular travel states, like Florida and California, rely heavily on tourism. The lack of tourism caused by travel bans can cause these economies to suffer.
Travel bans can also disrupt and delay international trade. Restrictions on crew members and transit passengers can affect the international transportation of goods and supply chains. Preventing passengers from entering the U.S. may limit trade and harm the workforce. Those of working age in countries where a travel ban is in place will not be able to enter or work in the U.S. This can exacerbate existing labor shortages in fields such as healthcare and technology. Travel bans will also reduce the approval of student visas, which will significantly reduce workers in fields that require higher education.
The Future of Travel Bans
Travel bans are expected to drastically change throughout the Trump Administration. As of July 2025, the most recent travel ban fully suspended travel from 12 countries and partially suspended travel from seven others. The full ban applies to nationals for both immigrant and nonimmigrant entry, while a partial ban restricts immigration visas and certain nonimmigration visas. Reports indicate that the administration is considering adding up to 36 more countries to the travel ban list, for a total of 55 countries that would have restricted access to traveling to the U.S.
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