Trump Administration Expands Travel Ban
February 4, 2020
On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania have been added to the list of countries along with Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen whose nationals are subject to partial or total limitations on entry to the U.S. This follows remarks earlier in January by President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum that the U.S. government was considering an expansion of countries covered by travel restrictions under Executive Order No. 13780, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States. The specific suspensions vary by country:
- Burma: According to DHS, Burma has begun to engage with the U.S. on a variety of identity-management and information-sharing issues, but it does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics. Accordingly, DHS suspends of entry for Immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the U.S. Government.
- Eritrea: According to DHS, Eritrea does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics. Accordingly, DHS suspends entry for Immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the U.S. Government.
- Kyrgyzstan: According to DHS, Kyrgyzstan does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics. Accordingly, DHS suspends of entry for Immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the U.S. Government.
- Nigeria: According to DHS, Nigeria does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics. Accordingly, DHS suspends entry for Immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the U.S. Government.
- Sudan: According to DHS, Sudan generally does not comply with U.S. identity management performance metrics and presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the U.S. Accordingly, DHS suspends entry for Diversity Immigrants, as described in 8 U.S.C. 1153(c).
- Tanzania: According to DHS, Tanzania does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics. Accordingly, DHS suspends entry for Diversity Immigrants, as described in 8 U.S.C. 1153(c).
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665).
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