On Friday U.S. federal health authorities temporarily prohibited entry for lawful permanent residents who have travelled in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan during the prior 21 days, citing fears about Ebola transmission. The change narrows exemptions that previously applied to green card holders under a 30-day Ebola ban.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the extension of the restriction to lawful permanent residents was necessary to prevent the virus from entering the United States. In its statement the agency said: "Applying this authority to lawful permanent residents for a limited period of time provides a balance between protecting public health and managing emergency response resources."
The World Health Organization on Friday raised the risk level for the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola to "very high" for it turning into a national outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO also declared the outbreaks in the DRC and in Uganda to be an emergency of international concern.
The CDC initially issued the order on Monday under Title 42 of U.S. public health law. That statute permits federal health authorities to bar migrants from entering the country to reduce the spread of contagious illness. The agency’s latest move applies that authority to lawful permanent residents for a limited interval.
Historically, green card holders have been protected from some U.S. entry restrictions. The CDC’s COVID-era Title 42 order did not apply to lawful permanent residents, and the various travel bans implemented under former President Donald Trump similarly did not encompass green card holders. The recent change represents an exception to those precedents for the period defined by the CDC.
The agency framed the measure as a means to protect public health while managing the resources needed to respond to the health emergency. The CDC did not offer additional details beyond its statement about the operational timeframe or implementation procedures for the temporary restriction.
Note on available information: Reporting is limited to the details the CDC and WHO provided in their statements and the Title 42 authority noted by the CDC. No further implementation details or timelines were included in those communications.