Donald Trump announced a new visa sanction norm for visa denial to citizens of countries that either deny or delay in repatriating their citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. The memorandum issued by Trump for visa sanctions was effective immediately and valid until December 31, this year.

In the memorandum addressed to the Homeland Security Secretary and Secretary of State, Trump has said that countries that deny or unreasonably delay the acceptance of their citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents from the United States during the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 create unacceptable public health risks for Americans.

Trump also said that the US must be able to bring into effect repatriation of foreign nationals who violate the laws of the United States.

For the new sanction, the process will be initiated by the secretary of Homeland Security who would identify the countries that are unwilling to accept America’s request of repatriation of their citizens if it is interfering with operations undertaken for the coronavirus pandemic. Thereafter the secretary of Homeland Security would notify the Secretary of State. Within seven days of receiving such a notification, the Secretary of State would impose visa restrictions on such a country, Trump said in his memorandum.

The memorandum also clarified that the visa sanctions would be lifted as soon as the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies the Secretary of State that a foreign country has resumed accepting aliens without unreasonable delay who are its citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents when asked to accept those aliens.