Policy Foundation and Authority
President Trump’s Dec. 16 proclamation banned the issuance of visas to citizens of 39 countries and Palestinian Authority passport holders, part of an effort to tighten U.S. entry standards for foreigners. The proclamation carved out an exception for athletes and staff competing in the World Cup, the Olympics and other major sporting events. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was delegated the authority to decide which other sporting events would be covered by the exemption.
Covered Sports and Events
The State Department’s cable identifies covered events, including all competitions and qualifying events for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games and Para Pan-American Games; events hosted, sanctioned or recognized by a U.S. National Governing Body; all competitions for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, or its confederations.
The exemption also covers official events and competitions hosted by the International Military Sports Council, the International University Sports Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Professional sports leagues covered include the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Little League, National Hockey League, Professional Women’s Hockey League, NASCAR, Formula 1, Professional Golf Association, Ladies Professional Golf Association, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, Major League Soccer, World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship and All Elite Wrestling. The State Department said other events and leagues could be added to the list in the future.
Countries Subject to Travel Bans
The full travel ban applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as people with Palestinian Authority-issued passports.
A partial ban is in place for citizens of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.