Executive Order 13597-Establishing Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness
Issued 2012-01-19 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This executive order aims to make it easier and faster for foreign tourists and business travelers to visit the United States. The government recognized that America's share of international tourism had dropped significantly, from 17 percent to 11 percent of the global market between 2000 and 2010. The order directed federal agencies to speed up visa processing and improve the visitor entry system in order to create jobs and boost economic growth, while still maintaining national security.
The order sets specific goals for processing international visitors. It calls for increasing visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40 percent within a year and ensuring that 80 percent of visa applicants get interviews within three weeks of applying. It also directs agencies to expand programs that allow faster entry for low-risk travelers, such as the Global Entry program, and to expand the Visa Waiver Program that lets citizens of certain countries visit without visas.
This action affects foreign nationals seeking to visit the United States, particularly from China and Brazil, as well as the American tourism and travel industry. By making it faster and easier for international visitors to obtain visas and enter the country, the order aims to reverse the decline in America's tourism market share and support job growth in the tourism sector, which is described as one of the nation's leading service sectors and sources of exports.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13597 ("Executive Order 13597-Establishing Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness") directs federal immigration policy. The stated rationale: "create jobs and spur economic growth in the United States, while continuing to protect our national security, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1." The Immigration and Nationality Act grants the President significant authority over immigration enforcement, entry suspension, and refugee admissions. Section 212(f) in particular gives broad power to restrict entry of aliens deemed detrimental to U.S. interests.
Immigration executive orders frequently face legal challenges. Courts examine whether the order implements existing immigration statutes (generally acceptable) or creates new categories and policies Congress has not authorized (potentially overreaching). The Supreme Court has upheld broad presidential immigration authority in cases like Trump v. Hawaii (2018), while lower courts have struck down orders that exceed statutory limits or discriminate unconstitutionally.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2012 Executive Order 13597—Establishing Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness January 19, 2012 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve visa and foreign visitor processing and travel promotion in order to create jobs and spur economic growth in the United States, while continuing to protect our national security, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. The travel and tourism industry is one of our Nation's leading service sectors and sources of exports. However, the U.S. market share of spending by international travelers fell from 17 percent to 11 percent of the global market from 2000 to 2010, more than a 30 percent decrease in our share of the global market. This decrease was due primarily to increased international competition, changing patterns in global development, and, to some degree, more stringent security requirements imposed after 2001. Given the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the U.S. economy and job creation, a coordinated policy, consistent with pr