On September 24, 2017, President Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation on “Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats.” The proclamation announces the following measures with respect to the countries of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, subject to “categorical exceptions and case-by-case waivers”:

  • Chad: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of Chad as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas.
  • Iran: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of Iran as immigrants and nonimmigrants, except for the entry by such nationals under valid student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visas, although such individuals “should be subject to enhanced screening and vetting requirements.”
  • Libya: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of Libya as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas.
  • North Korea: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of North Korea as immigrants and nonimmigrants. In a separate notice, the Department of State announced that U.S. passports are invalid for travel into, in, or through North Korea/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
  • Somalia: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of Somalia as immigrants. Additionally, visa adjudications for nationals of Somalia and decisions regarding their entry as nonimmigrants “should be subject to additional scrutiny to determine if applicants are connected to terrorist organizations or otherwise pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States.”
  • Syria: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of Syria as immigrants and nonimmigrants.
  • Venezuela: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of officials of government agencies of Venezuela involved in screening and vetting procedures—including the Ministry of the Popular Power for Interior, Justice and Peace; the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration and Immigration; the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigation Service Corps; the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service; and the Ministry of the Popular Power for Foreign Relations—and their immediate family members as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas. Nationals of Venezuela who are visa holders “should be subject to appropriate additional measures to ensure traveler information remains current.”
  • Yemen: The proclamation suspends indefinitely the entry into the United States of nationals of Yemen as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas.

The proclamation also notes that entry restrictions and limitations on Iraq are “not warranted.” However, nationals of Iraq who seek to enter the United States will be subject to “additional scrutiny to determine if they pose risks to the national security or public safety of the United States.”

Exceptions

Among other things, the proclamation lists exceptions to these suspensions of entry for:

  • Any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
  • Any foreign national who is admitted to or paroled into the United States on or after the applicable effective date (see the proclamation for details);
  • Any foreign national who has a document other than a visa—such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document—valid on the applicable effective date or issued on any date thereafter, that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission;
  • Any dual national of a designated country when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country;
  • Any foreign national traveling on a diplomatic or diplomatic-type visa; North Atlantic Treaty Organization visa; C-2 visa for travel to the United Nations; or G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa; and
  • Any foreign national who has been granted asylum by the United States; any refugee who has already been admitted to the United States; or any individual who has been granted withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

Related Links: