US blocks immediate return for Americans in Congo during Ebola outbreak
Americans in or recently in the DRC must spend 21 days in a third country before flying to the United States, Reuters and Politico reported.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
The Trump administration has blocked some U.S. citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from boarding flights directly back to the United States during an Ebola outbreak, according to Reuters and Politico. The restriction matters because it applies to Americans abroad and has already stopped people who were scheduled to travel home.
Reuters first reported late Monday that Americans now in the DRC, as well as people who recently traveled there, had been placed on a “do-not-board” list. Politico independently confirmed the order on Tuesday.
Under the rule described by both outlets, affected travelers cannot fly to the United States until they have spent 21 days in a third country. Reuters reported that the administration used a transportation authority known as Title 49 to issue the order.
The restriction comes as an Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to exceed response efforts, according to the reports. Neither Reuters nor Politico reported an end date for the travel bar.
Travelers already stopped
Roughly two dozen Americans who were expected to board flights home Tuesday have already been blocked by the new rule, Reuters and Politico reported. The reports did not identify the travelers or say where they planned to transit before returning to the United States.
The order does not appear to be a general ban on leaving the DRC, based on the details reported by Reuters and Politico. Instead, it prevents affected travelers from boarding flights to the United States unless they first complete the 21-day stay outside the Ebola-stricken country.
The scope of the order remains unclear in at least one key area. Reuters and Politico reported that it is not yet known whether the restriction also applies to U.S. government employees.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has at least two dozen staff members working in the DRC, according to the reports. The outlets did not report whether any CDC employees were among those blocked from flights Tuesday.
Authority cited
Reuters reported that the administration acted under Title 49, a transportation authority. The reports did not provide further details on how the authority was applied or whether affected travelers would have a process to seek an exemption.
The immediate effect is that Americans in or recently in the DRC face a waiting period outside the country before they can return home. Reuters and Politico reported that the rule is already being enforced through the do-not-board list used to stop passengers before departure.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.