President Trump has issued a proclamation which contains measures intended to control and limit the entry of individuals potentially exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Travel Ban
Certain immigrants and non-immigrants are banned from entering the United States. This include those who were physically present within China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, 14 days prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States. The ban became effective at 5:00 pm (ET) on Sunday, February 2, 2020.
On February 29, 2020 the travel ban also extended to any non citizen who has visited Iran within the last 14 days.
On March 11, 2020, Trump added 26 more to the list of European countries subject to the travel ban.These countries are on the Schengen Area and comprises the following European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Avoid Non-essential Travels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention upped its travel alerts for Italy and Iran yesterday to the highest level, Level 3, which means avoid all non-essential travel. The State Department also increased its warning advising Americans not to travel to certain regions of Italy and South Korea affected by the virus.
Mandatory Self Quarantine
U.S. citizens who are traveling from the enumerated European countries and those traveling to the Hubei province in China within 14 days of arriving to the United States will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine. Returning U.S. citizens who had visited other parts of China, outside of Hong Kong, Macau, and the Hubei province, will be subject to monitoring at certain ports of entry, and potentially self-quarantine at home. With the recent advisory it is believed that travelers from Iran may also be subject to mandatory self quarantine.
Individuals Exempt from the Travel Ban (But Not from Mandatory Self Quarantine)
The Proclamation clarifies that it does not impact an individual’s eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT). In addition to U.S. Citizens, the Proclamation does not apply to the following individuals:
- Lawful permanent residents of the United States;
- Spouses of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
- Parents or legal guardians of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;
- Siblings of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;
- Children, foster children, or wards of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or prospective adoptees seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;
- Foreign nationals traveling to the United States at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;
- Nonimmigrants under section 101(a)(15)(C) or (D) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(C) or (D), as a crewmember or any alien otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew;
- Nonimmigrants on an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
- Foreign nationals whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the CDC Director, or his designee;
- Foreign nationals whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee; or
- Foreign nationals whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.
Please bookmark this page and refer to it from time to time for any updates on this ongoing global crisis.
