[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57108-57109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20371]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Chapter I

Transportation Security Administration

49 CFR Chapter XII


Notification of Termination of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to 
Flights Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were 
Otherwise Present Within Certain Countries

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Transportation 
Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notification of termination of arrival restrictions.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the decision of the Secretary of the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate arrival restrictions 
applicable to certain flights. Specifically, this document terminates 
arrival restrictions that are applicable to flights carrying persons 
who had recently traveled from, or were otherwise present within, the 
People's Republic of China (excluding the Special Administrative 
Regions of Hong Kong and Macau); the Islamic Republic of Iran; the 
countries of the Schengen Area; the United Kingdom, excluding overseas 
territories outside of Europe; the Republic of Ireland; or the 
Federative Republic of Brazil. These arrival restrictions direct such 
flights to only land at a limited set of U.S. airports where the U.S. 
Government (USG) had focused public health resources conducting 
enhanced entry screening. Other measures to protect public health will 
remain in place.

DATES: The arrival restrictions described in this document are 
terminated as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 
14, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew S. Davies, Office of Field 
Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at 202-325-2073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In recent months, in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID-19) outbreak, DHS announced a series of arrival restrictions, as 
follows:
     Notification of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights 
Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise 
Present Within the People's Republic of China, 85 FR 6044 (Feb. 4, 
2020);
     Notification of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights 
Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise 
Present Within the People's Republic of China, 85 FR 7214 (Feb. 7, 
2020);
     Notification of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights 
Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise 
Present Within the People's Republic of China or the Islamic Republic 
of Iran, 85 FR 12731 (Mar. 4, 2020);
     Notification of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights 
Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise 
Present Within the Countries of the Schengen Area, 85 FR 15059 (Mar. 
17, 2020);
     Notification of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights 
Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise 
Present Within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, 85 FR 
15714 (Mar. 19, 2020);
     Notification of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights 
Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise 
Present Within the Federative Republic of Brazil, 85 FR 31957 (May 28, 
2020).
    The Secretary announced such arrival restrictions consistent with 
19 U.S.C. 1433(c), 19 CFR 122.32, 49 U.S.C. 114, and 49 CFR 1544.305 
and 1546.105.
    The Secretary has decided to terminate these arrival restrictions. 
These restrictions funnel eligible arriving air passengers to one of 15 
designated airports of entry where the USG has focused public health 
resources in order to conduct enhanced entry screening. Terminating 
this effort

[[Page 57109]]

will allow public health resources to be more effectively reprioritized 
for other containment and mitigation efforts and will stimulate air 
travel. Continuing activities will include an illness reporting system 
and a passenger education process carried out in tandem with other 
enhanced public health measures implemented within the passenger air 
transportation system in collaboration with industry. This notice does 
not affect those other public health measures, which will remain in 
place as long as appropriate. Appropriate traveler health education 
materials will continue to be made available to passengers arriving 
from foreign countries. Health education information will continue to 
be displayed at ports of entry.

Notification of Termination of Arrival Restrictions

    Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1433(c), 19 CFR 122.32, 49 U.S.C. 114, and 49 
CFR 1544.305 and 1546.105, and effective as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time (EDT) on September 14, 2020 for all affected flights 
arriving at a U.S. airport, the Secretary hereby terminates the arrival 
restrictions announced at 85 FR 6044 (Feb. 4, 2020); 85 FR 7214 (Feb. 
7, 2020); 85 FR 12731 (Mar. 4, 2020); 85 FR 15059 (Mar. 17, 2020); 85 
FR 15714 (Mar. 19, 2020); and 85 FR 31957 (May 28, 2020).

Signature

    The Acting Secretary of DHS, Chad F. Wolf, having reviewed and 
approved this document, has delegated the authority to electronically 
sign this document to Ian J. Brekke, Deputy General Counsel, DHS Office 
of the General Counsel, for purposes of publication in the Federal 
Register.

Ian J. Brekke,
Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2020-20371 Filed 9-11-20; 9:00 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14- 9110-05-P