Trump's Upcoming Travel Restrictions Could Impact Dozens of Latino MLB Stars

President Donald Trump is reportedly finalizing a new set of travel restrictions that would impact citizens of up to 43 countries, including nationals from Cuba, Afghanistan, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, and several African countries.

The new travel restrictions are linked to one of Trump's Jan. 20 executive orders directing cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should either be partly or fully suspended due to "vetting and screening information" deficiencies.

But as Axios reports, the travel restrictions would not only impact individuals looking for work opportunities or to simply visit the United States. It would also have a huge impact on Venezuelan and Cuban nationals that play for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, for example.

Immigration lawyers say that, should the administration enact the ban, players currently holding P-1 visas, which are non-migrant visas for internationally recognized athletes and entertainers, could face new difficulties during the season. For example, they would face extra hurdles when trying to return home after games played outside of the U.S.

Amy Maldonado, an immigration lawyer in Michigan and an expert on players' visas, told the outlet that baseball stars with P-1 visas who are from any of the countries listed in the "red tier" of Trump's proposed travel ban could face the risk of being stuck in the U.S. or even prevented from returning to their homes if they were to leave.

"An absolute ban would mean that these players won't be able to travel internationally," Maldonado said.

Despite the implications of the ban, it remains unclear how many players would be affected by the restrictions but experts and lawyers suggest it would mainly hurt young players and those assigned to minor league teams. Maldonado said that stars such as Venezuelans José Altuve or Cubans such as Yulieski Gurriel —players experienced enough to qualify for salary arbitration— typically have obtained green cards.

When the New York Times first reported of the drafted list, the outlet highlighted that it was not clear whether people with existing visas will be exempted from the ban or if their visas would be canceled nor if the Trump administration intends to exempt existing green card holders.

Coaches, scouts and staff members from countries listed in the red tier who have P-1 visas would also face hurdles, Maldonado said, adding that teams could have difficulties bringing drafted or young prospects signed into the U.S.

According to data from MLB, 18 Cubans and 58 Venezuelans were included in MLB rosters for Opening Day in 2024, the highest number of international players only surpassed by the Dominican Republic (108).

Both Cuba and Venezuela would form part of Trump's proposed red tier list that flatly bars citizens of those countries from entering the U.S. Other countries in the red tier include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

When asked for comment, a White House official told Axios no decisions have been made regarding P-1 visa holders nor on Trump's new proposed restrictions, although a State Department spokesperson told the outlet that the department was currently reviewing all visa programs as directed by Trump's executive order and declined to comment further.

The 2025 MLB season is set to start on March 27 although the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs have already played two international games in Tokyo, Japan.