President Trump Suspends Most Travel From Brazil

On May 24, 2020, President Trump announced major travel restrictions on visitors from Brazil to the US, in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. 

When does the ban take effect?

May 26, 2020, for flights that departed before 11.59 p.m. This is two days earlier than originally scheduled.

How long is the ban?

The Presidential Proclamation states that it “…shall remain in effect until terminated by the President.” In other words, there is no defined end date. 

Who is exempt from the ban?

The ban does not apply to

1.     US citizens and their spouses.
2.     US permanent residents (LPRs) (green card holders) and their spouses.
3.     Parents or legal guardians of US citizen or LPR children (unmarried and under 21).
4.     Children (included adoptive and foster children) of US citizens or LPRs.
5.     Foreign nationals traveling to the US for specific purposes, including

• a.     Invited by US government to help mitigate the virus.
• b.     Crew members on flights or other modes of transport.
• c.     Certain people on diplomatic or NGO visas.
• d.     US Armed Forces members and families.
• e.     People whose entry is in the national interest, including helping with law enforcement,
• f.      Anyone whose entry “..would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus…”

The details of (e) and (f) are vague and we don’t know how the exceptions will be applied in practice.

The ban does not affect anyone’s ability to apply for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

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