Presidential Actions: Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the U.S.

On 1/20/2021 President JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. issued a proclamation to repeal the travel bans issued by former President Trump. The bans restricted certain nonimmigrants and immigrants from Arab and Muslim-majority and African-majority countries from entering the United States. In the Proclamation, President Biden revokes Executive Order 13780, Proclamation 9645 (Muslim Travel Ban), Proclamation 9723 (Removing Chad from Muslim Travel Ban), and the most recent ban on African-majority countries, Proclamation 9983 (African Travel Ban).

Affected Individuals

• Foreign nationals of Libya, Yemen, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela, Myanmar, and Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania who:
• Were outside the United States on the effective date of the previous orders
• Did not have a valid visa on the effective date of the previous orders; and
• Did not qualify for a visa or other valid travel document under section 6(d) of Proclamation 9645

Exceptions

• Foreign nationals of the countries listed above who were in the United States, on a valid visa, on the effective date of the previous orders

Implications for the immigrant population of UT Dallas

• The United States Secretary of State will direct all embassies and consulates to cease applying the repealed executive orders and proclamations and resume all processing of visas
• If an individual’s visa was denied under the previous bans there is nothing to do until the Department of State (DOS) conducts its assessment and sets up a procedure for denied cases
• Individuals present in the United State, in valid F-1 or J-1 student, research scholar or short term scholar status, are able to remain in the U.S. working and studying as appropriate for their immigration category.
• Individuals present in the United States in a valid non-immigrant status are able to remain in the U.S., working and studying as appropriate for their immigration category.
• Legal Permanent Residents are able to remain in the U.S. working and studying as appropriate for their immigration category