Update on Executive Order: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States
On Monday, March 6, 2017, President Trump signed an order rescinding and replacing his Jan. 27, 2017, executive order that established a travel ban for nationals of seven majority Muslim countries.
The new executive order, which will take effect on March 16, will bar travel to the United States for 90 days for citizens of six majority Muslim countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. (The new travel ban does not apply to citizens of Iraq.) The new executive order also suspends refugee admissions for 120 days, subject to case-by case exceptions, and limits refugee entry to 50,000 for this fiscal year. The new order does not impose an indefinite ban on Syrian refugee entry.
The order states that the travel suspension does not apply to the following:
- Lawful permanent residents of the United States
- Dual citizens traveling on a passport of a country other than the designated six countries
- Those who held valid visas as of Jan. 27, 2017, or will have obtained a valid visa on or before March 16, 2017
- Those who are granted asylum or parole, admitted as refugees, hold certain types of visas or have valid documents other than visas permitting entry
The order also provides for waivers for individuals who can demonstrate undue hardship and that their entry would not threaten national security and would be in the national interest. Examples of circumstances where waiver may be appropriate include those involving individuals who have previously been admitted for work or study.
Those whose visas expire while traveling abroad and those with single entry visas will have to reapply to obtain a new visas in order to gain re-entry to the United States. The travel ban may be extended to other countries in the future. Students and faculty potentially affected who are considering traveling outside the United States should seek legal advice before making a decision. For additional information, visit https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/03/06/qa-protecting-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states.