Talking Points: U.S. Travel Ban (Updated June 30, 2017)
Talking Points – U.S. Travel Ban
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The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients who have questions about the executive order banning certain travelers from entering the United States. (Updated June 30, 2017)
1. A limited version of the Executive Order, which prohibits citizens of six Muslim-majority countries and refugees from entering the U.S., is in effect. The ban will impact individuals lacking any “bona fide relationship with any person or entity in the United States.”
2. We are here to assist our clients; their safety and well-being is our top priority.
3. We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.
Below you will find additional information, supporting material and statistics to help further illustrate each talking point.
1. A limited version of the Executive Order, which prohibits citizens of six Muslim-majority countries and refugees from entering the U.S., is in effect. The ban will impact individuals lacking any “bona fide relationship with any person or entity in the United States.”
On the evening of June 29, 2017, implementation of the Executive Order, commonly referred to as the U.S. travel ban, went into effect. According to the U.S. State Department:
o “Lawful permanent residents of the United States are not affected by the Executive Order.”
o The Executive Order doesn’t restrict the travel of “dual nationals, so long as they are traveling on the passport of an unrestricted country and, if needed, hold a valid U.S. visa.”
o “Permanent residents of Canada who hold passports of a restricted country can apply for an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa to the United States if the individual presents that passport, and proof of permanent resident status, to a consular officer. These applications must be made at a U.S. consular section in Canada.”
The U.S. travel ban should not impact the following individuals:
o Individuals who have legal status as U.S. citizens, or via green cards and visas.
o A foreign national who seeks to enter the United States to live with a family member, such as a spouse or mother-in-law. The court said a “close familial relationship is required.”
The State Department as defined that as: “A close familial relationship is defined as a parent (including parent-in-law), spouse, fiancé, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sibling, whether whole or half, and including step relationships. ‘Close family’ does not include grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and any other “extended” family members.”
o A student who has been admitted to study at an American university.
o A worker who has accepted an offer of employment from an American company.
o A lecturer invited to address an American audience.
The revised Executive Order barring citizens from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days, and refugees from entering for 120 days, was set to go into effect on March 16.
o A temporary freeze of the revised U.S. travel ban was ordered by U.S. District Judge Watson of Hawaii on March 15, 2017, and on March 16, a federal judge in Maryland blocked the portion of the Executive Order that included a 90-day ban on immigration for citizens of six countries.
o On March 29, an injunction was issued by Hawaii’s U.S. District Court Judge, Derrick Watson, which now blocks the Executive Order – more commonly referred to as the U.S. travel ban – indefinitely.
o On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the temporary ban on travelers from six Muslim-majority countries, in addition to all refugees, can go into effect for people with no strong ties to the United States. Full arguments on the legality of the ban will be heard by the Supreme Court in October.
According to The New York Times, “The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for President Trump to prohibit the entry of some people into the United States from countries he deems dangerous, but the justices imposed strict limits on Mr. Trump’s travel ban while the court examines the scope of presidential power over the border.”
The Washington Post reported “The court made an important exception: It said the ban “may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”
Originally, on January 27, 2017, a Presidential Executive Order was signed banning nationals of seven countries from entering the United States for at least 90 days. Those countries include: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
2. We are here to assist our clients; their safety and well-being is our top priority.
Whether traveling domestically or internationally, our number one priority is always our clients’ safety and well-being.
As professional travel agents, we are trained to monitor situations, from weather delays to political protests, that may impact clients’ travel plans. As such, we are also in a position to work on alternative travel plans and have those in place the moment the need arises.
We strongly encourage all of our clients, whether they are traveling domestically or internationally, to purchase travel insurance, particularly right at the same time as travel has been booked. Travel insurance offers an additional layer of protection for travelers and can potentially help save a traveler hundreds or thousands of dollars if a medical or travel emergency occurs.
3. We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.
We closely monitor the latest news and weather updates, as well as the U.S. State Department website, for travel alerts and travel warnings for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.
Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel so they can determine for themselves if they still wish to continue with their original travel plans
Also, should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination where a client is currently located, we try to immediately contact the client to check on their well-being and work to assist them if they require alternate travel arrangements.
We believe in providing the facts as we know them to our clients so they may make informed decisions regarding every aspect of their travel plans.
It’s in situations like these that the traveling public understands how it pays to have someone serving as their advocate.