The president says the nation has inadequate vetting measures and lacks a competent central authority for issuing passports. The ban takes effect June 9.
President Donald Trump has suspended entry into the United States for Venezuelans with tourist, business, student, and cultural exchange visas, in addition to suspending or restricting entry for citizens of 11 other countries.
“The entry into the United States of nationals of Venezuela as immigrants and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas is hereby suspended,” the president wrote in a June 4 proclamation.
The B-1 visa is for business, B-2 is for tourism, B-1/B-2 visa combines the two, and the F, M, and J visas are granted to students.
Trump added that Venezuela “lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents, and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.”
The White House said that the country has historically refused to accept its deported citizens, and that B-1/B-2 visas granted to its citizens have an overstay rate of 9.8 percent according to the Overstay Report.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” Trump said in a video statement after announcing this executive order.
Since 1999, Venezuela has been ruled by a socialist regime currently led by Nicolás Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez after the latter’s death in 2013. The regime has beencriticized for severe human rights violations.
The executive order excluded legal permanent residents of the United States, dual nationals, and passport holders from a nonrestricted country from the applicable measures.
Athletes or members of sports teams, including their coaches, participating in major sporting events, as determined by the U.S. secretary of state, will also be exempt.
The ban takes effect on June 9.
The order also provides that within 90 days, and every 180 days thereafter, the secretary of state must submit a report to the president with his assessment and recommendations on whether the measure should continue or be terminated, modified, or supplemented.
This follows the Trump administration’s decision to cancel temporary protected status (TPS) for Venezuelans announced earlier this year.
