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`Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Corona…
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`PROCLAMATIONS
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`Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants
`and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of
`Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus
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` HEALTHCARE
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`Issued on: January 31, 2020
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`★ ★ ★
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`The United States has confirmed cases of individuals who have a severe acute respiratory illness
`caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (“2019-nCoV”) (“the virus”) first detected in Wuhan, Hubei
`Province, People’s Republic of China (“China”). The virus was discovered in China in December
`2019. As of January 31, 2020, Chinese health o icials have reported approximately 10,000
`confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in China, more than the number of confirmed cases of Severe Acute
`Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) during its 2003 outbreak. An additional 114 cases have been
`confirmed across 22 other countries; in several of these cases, the infected individuals had not
`visited China. More than 200 people have died from the virus, all in China.
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`Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people and others circulate
`among animals, including camels, cats, and bats. Animal coronaviruses are capable of evolving to
`infect people and subsequently spreading through human-to-human transmission. This occurred
`with both Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and SARS. Many of the individuals with the earliest
`confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal
`market, suggesting animal-to-human transmission. Later, a growing number of infected
`individuals reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating human-to-human
`transmission. Chinese o icials now report that sustained human-to-human transmission of the
`virus is occurring in China. Manifestations of severe disease have included severe pneumonia,
`acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, and multi-organ failure.
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`Neighboring jurisdictions have taken swi action to protect their citizens by closing o travel
`between their territories and China. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared
`the 2019-nCoV outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
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`Outbreaks of novel viral infections among people are always of public health concern, and older
`adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk. Public health
`experts are still learning about the severity of 2019-nCoV. An understanding of the key attributes of
`this novel virus, including its transmission dynamics, incubation period, and severity, is critical to
`assessing the risk it poses to the American public. Nonetheless, the Centers for Disease Control and
`Prevention (CDC) has determined that the virus presents a serious public health threat.
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`The CDC is closely monitoring the situation in the United States, is conducting enhanced entry
`screening at 5 United States airports where the majority of travelers from Wuhan arrive, and is
`enhancing illness response capacity at the 20 ports of entry where CDC medical screening stations
`are located. The CDC is also supporting States in conducting contact investigations of confirmed
`2019-nCoV cases identified within the United States. The CDC has confirmed that the virus has
`spread between two people in the United States, representing the first instance of person-to-
`person transmission of the virus within the United States. The CDC, along with state and local
`health departments, has limited resources and the public health system could be overwhelmed if
`sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus occurred in the United States. Sustained
`human-to-human transmission has the potential to have cascading public health, economic,
`national security, and societal consequences.
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`During Fiscal Year 2019, an average of more than 14,000 people traveled to the United States from
`China each day, via both direct and indirect flights. The United States Government is unable to
`e ectively evaluate and monitor all of the travelers continuing to arrive from China. The potential
`for widespread transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States
`threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security.
` Given the importance of protecting persons within the United States from the threat of this harmful
`communicable disease, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take
`action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of
`all aliens who were physically present within the People’s Republic of China, excluding the Special
`Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period preceding their entry or
`attempted entry into the United States. I have also determined that the United States should take
`all necessary and appropriate measures to facilitate orderly medical screening and, where
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`appropriate, quarantine of persons allowed to enter the United States who may have been exposed
`to this virus.
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`NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States, by the authority vested in
`me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and
`215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of
`title 3, United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted entry into the United States of persons
`described in section 1 of this proclamation would, except as provided for in section 2 of this
`proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be
`subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions. I therefore hereby proclaim the
`following:
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`Section 1. Suspension and Limitation on Entry. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or
`nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the People’s Republic of China,
`excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period
`preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited
`subject to section 2 of this proclamation.
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`Sec. 2. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.
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`(a) Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:
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`(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
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`(ii) any alien who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
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`(iii) any alien who is the parent or legal guardian 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;
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`(iv) any alien who is the sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both
`are unmarried and under the age of 21;
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`(v) any alien who is the child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident,
`or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa
`classifications;
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`(vi) any alien traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to
`containment or mitigation of the virus;
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`(vii) any alien traveling as a nonimmigrant 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;
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`(viii) any alien seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as
`a foreign government o icial or immediate family member of an o icial), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1
`through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
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`(ix) any alien whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or
`spreading the virus, as determined by the CDC Director, or his designee;
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`(x) any alien 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
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`(xi) any alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of
`State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.
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`(b) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to a ect any individual’s eligibility for asylum,
`withholding of removal, or protection under the regulations issued pursuant to the legislation
`implementing the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
`or Punishment, consistent with the laws and regulations of the United States.
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`Sec. 3. Implementation and Enforcement. (a) The Secretary of State shall implement this
`proclamation as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in
`consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish. The Secretary of Homeland
`Security shall implement this proclamation as it applies to the entry of aliens pursuant to such
`procedures as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may
`establish.
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`(b) Consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, and the
`Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that any alien subject to this proclamation does not
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`board an aircra traveling to the United States.
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`(c) The Secretary of Homeland Security may establish standards and procedures to ensure the
`application and implementation of this proclamation at United States seaports and in between all
`ports of entry.
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`(d) An alien who circumvents the application of this proclamation through fraud, willful
`misrepresentation of a material fact, or illegal entry shall be a priority for removal by the
`Department of Homeland Security.
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`Sec. 4. Orderly Medical Screening and Quarantine. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take
`all necessary and appropriate steps to regulate the travel of persons and aircra to the United
`States to facilitate the orderly medical screening and, where appropriate, quarantine of persons
`who enter the United States and who may have been exposed to the virus. Such steps may include
`directing air carriers to restrict and regulate the boarding of such passengers on flights to the
`United States.
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`Sec. 5. Termination. This proclamation shall remain in e ect until terminated by the President.
` The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, as circumstances warrant and no more than 15
`days a er the date of this order and every 15 days therea er, recommend that the President
`continue, modify, or terminate this proclamation.
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`Sec. 6. E ective Date. This proclamation is e ective at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on
`February 2, 2020.
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`Sec. 7. Severability. It is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the
`maximum extent possible to advance the national security, public safety, and foreign policy
`interests of the United States. Accordingly:
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`(a) if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or
`circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its
`provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be a ected thereby; and
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`(b) if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or
`circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the lack of certain procedural requirements, the
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`relevant executive branch o icials shall implement those procedural requirements to conform with
`existing law and with any applicable court orders.
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`Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or
`otherwise a ect:
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`(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
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`(ii) the functions of the Director of the O ice of Management and Budget relating to budgetary,
`administrative, or legislative proposals.
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`(b) This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the
`availability of appropriations.
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`(c) This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
`procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
`agencies, or entities, its o icers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
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`IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of January, in the year of
`our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two
`hundred and forty-fourth.
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`DONALD J. TRUMP
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