Proclamation? Legally Debatable

Proclamation 10138-Terminating Suspensions of Entry Into the United States of Aliens Who Have Been Physically Present in the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil

Issued 2021-01-18 by Donald J. Trump

Plain-English Overview

AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters

On January 17, 2021, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation that ended certain suspensions on entry into the United States. This action specifically terminated the restrictions for aliens who had been physically present in the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil. These aliens were previously subject to entry suspensions due to concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks in those regions.

The decision to lift these specific suspensions followed a recommendation from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This recommendation was made after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new order requiring all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the United States to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. The Secretary advised that this new testing requirement, along with expected cooperation from these jurisdictions, would help protect Americans from COVID-19 while enabling travel to safely resume. Presidents have the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to

AI-generated summary for educational purposes

Constitutional Analysis

How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law

This proclamation ("Proclamation 10138-Terminating Suspensions of Entry Into the United States of Aliens Who Have Been Physically Present in the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Federative Republic of Brazil") restricts or modifies entry into the United States. Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act grants the President authority to suspend entry of aliens whose presence would be "detrimental to the interests of the United States." The Supreme Court upheld this broad authority in Trump v. Hawaii (2018).

While the statutory authority is expansive, courts scrutinize immigration proclamations for discrimination, rational basis, and fidelity to the underlying statute. The constitutional question often turns on whether the proclamation is implementing existing immigration law (acceptable) or effectively creating new categories and policies Congress did not authorize (potentially overreaching).

Official Summary

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