Report: President Trump considering plan to block some Americans from returning to U.S.
The New York Times is reporting late Monday (Aug. 10) President Donald Trump is considering a ban on Americans returning from overseas under certain circumstances.
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The Times reports they've seen a draft of the regulations that would allow the president to temporarily block the return of Americans or legal U.S. residents from returning to the U.S. from foreign countries if authorities believe they are infected the coronavirus or sick with COVID-19. It would be an expansion of the government's power. The Times says,
".. a draft regulation would expand the government’s power to prevent entry by citizens and legal residents in individual, limited circumstances. Federal agencies have been asked to submit feedback on the proposal to the White House by Tuesday, though it is unclear when it might be approved or announced.
Under the proposal, which relies on existing legal authorities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government could block a citizen or legal resident from crossing the border into the United States if an official “reasonably believes that the individual either may have been exposed to or is infected with the communicable disease.”
Interestingly, the measure reportedly includes language that U.S. citizens Constitutional rights are preserved. It also does not include any kind of timelines for how long citizens would be prevented from returning.
Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research told TPG, that this regulation would cause chaos and confusion for returning U.S. citizens, "This proposed regulation would likely further depress already anemic levels of international travel and add to airlines' financial pressures. This proposed regulation increases the need for a globally-accepted "safe travel protocol" to ensure only bona fide healthy people are allowed to travel - anywhere."
Border control has wide authority to refuse entry if people present a national security threat, but refusals for health reasons have been exceedingly rare.
The rule would reportedly include northern and southern land borders in addition to airports.
Related: Here's where Americans can travel internationally
The Times report says, "The rule notes the prevalence of the coronavirus in Mexico as evidence of the need for the modified rule, citing the death on August 2 of the health minister in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua, who the order says died of Covid-19 after a two week hospitalization."
JohnnyJet founder and editor-in-chief John E. DiScala (aka Johnny Jet) told TPG, "I wouldn't be too worried if I was an American citizen but if you're a visa or Green Card holder there's now another reason to be nervous about returning to the U.S.A."
If you missed it, here’s our country-by-country guide to reopenings and our new Africa country-by-country guide.
Indeed, Harteveldt said the report leaves many unanswered questions. Among them, "What will the government use to determine if a person has COVID-19? Would it be an "instant" test or something else? Where would it be administered? Would it be applied to US citizens returning from every country or just one or a few countries? What kind of recourse would the traveler have if she or he is found to have the virus? And if enacted, what would the criteria be for this regulation to be removed?
Related: Can Americans travel internationally after quarantine in U.K. or Ireland?
Related: How special visas bypass international restrictions on essential travel
Related: State-by-state guide to reopening America
Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Centers for Disease Control had a comment for the Times as of publication.
You'll remember early in his presidency, Trump declared a ban on immigrants or visitors from several predominantly Muslim nations. That case went all the way to the Supreme Court before it was modified and eventually became law.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.