United States – New Executive Order on Immigration
7 March 2017
Members who call at ports in the US should note that President Trump has now issued a new Executive Order (EO), on 6 March 2017, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”. This revokes and replaces the previously suspended EO on the subject (click here to access the Club’s News Alert of 16 February 2017).
The new EO directs that entry into the US for nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen shall be suspended for 90 days from 16 March 2017, whilst a worldwide review is carried out by the US Secretary of Homeland Security. US law firm Freehill Hogan & Mahar LLP report that crew members from these countries will not be able to enter the US unless they hold a valid visa. Those without a valid visa will not be able to obtain one until after 14 June 2017. Whilst vessels with crew from these countries are unlikely to be denied entry to the US, it is probable that these crew members will be denied shore leave whilst the vessel is at a US port and Owners may well have to employ security guards to ensure they do not leave the vessel.
A copy of the US lawyer’s update with further details can be accessed by clicking here.