The United States has temporarily suspended the entry of lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, citing concerns over the spread of Ebola. The move expands an earlier 30-day Ebola-related travel restriction that had exempted U.S. citizens, nationals, and green card holders. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the temporary measure is intended to strengthen safeguards against the virus entering the country.
In a statement, the CDC said applying the restriction to lawful permanent residents for a limited period strikes a balance between protecting public health and managing emergency response resources. The agency issued the order under Title 42 of U.S. public health law, which allows federal health authorities to restrict entry into the United States to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. The order was first introduced earlier this week as health officials monitored developments in East and Central Africa.
The decision comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the risk of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola developing into a national outbreak in the DRC to “very high” and declared the outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Historically, green card holders have generally been exempt from major U.S. entry restrictions, including previous Title 42 measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and various travel bans implemented under President Donald Trump.
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