[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8697 of August 4, 2011

Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who
Participate in Serious Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Violations and
Other Abuses
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The United States enduring commitment to respect for human rights and
humanitarian law requires that its Government be able to ensure that the
United States does not become a safe haven for serious violators of
human rights and humanitarian law and those who engage in

[[Page 2057]]

other related abuses. Universal respect for human rights and
humanitarian law and the prevention of atrocities internationally
promotes U.S. values and fundamental U.S. interests in helping secure
peace, deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and
corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent humanitarian crises
around the globe. I therefore have determined that it is in the
interests of the United States to take action to restrict the
international travel and to suspend the entry into the United States, as
immigrants or nonimmigrants, of certain persons who have engaged in the
acts outlined in section 1 of this proclamation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, by the authority vested in me as
President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
of 1952, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and
nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in
section 1 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of
the United States. I therefore hereby proclaim that:
Section 1. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or
nonimmigrants, of the following persons is hereby suspended:
(a) Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided and abetted,
committed or otherwise participated in, including through command
responsibility, widespread or systematic violence against any civilian
population based in whole or in part on race; color; descent; sex;
disability; membership in an indigenous group; language; religion;
political opinion; national origin; ethnicity; membership in a
particular social group; birth; or sexual orientation or gender
identity, or who attempted or conspired to do so.
(b) Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided and abetted,
committed or otherwise participated in, including through command
responsibility, war crimes, crimes against humanity or other serious
violations of human rights, or who attempted or conspired to do so.
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply with respect to
any person otherwise covered by section 1 where the entry of such person
would not harm the foreign relations interests of the United States.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee, in his or
her sole discretion, shall identify persons covered by section 1 of this
proclamation, pursuant to such standards and procedures as the Secretary
may establish.
Sec. 4. The Secretary of State shall have responsibility for
implementing this proclamation pursuant to such procedures as the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may
establish.
Sec. 5. For any person whose entry is otherwise suspended under this
proclamation entry will be denied, unless the Secretary of State
determines that the particular entry of such person would be in the
interests of the United States. In exercising such authority, the
Secretary of State shall consult the Secretary of Homeland Security on
matters related to admissibility or inadmissibility within the authority
of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sec. 6. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to derogate from
United States Government obligations under applicable inter

[[Page 2058]]

national agreements, or to suspend entry based solely on an alien's
ideology, opinions, or beliefs, or based solely on expression that would
be considered protected under U.S. interpretations of international
agreements to which the United States is a party. Nothing in this
proclamation shall be construed to limit the authority of the United
States to admit or to suspend entry of particular individuals into the
United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101
et seq.) or under any other provision of U.S. law.
Sec. 7. This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other
person.
Sec. 8. This proclamation is effective immediately and shall remain in
effect until such time as the Secretary of State determines that it is
no longer necessary and should be terminated, either in whole or in
part. Any such termination shall become effective upon publication in
the Federal Register.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA