I was elated to hear yesterday that President Donald Trump would rescind the travel ban that has barred Brazilians, British, and Europeans from visiting the United States during the pandemic. But just hours later, the incoming Biden Administration announced it would block these changes from going into effect.
Biden Blocks Lifting European, UK, Brazilian Travel Bans
By Presidential Proclamation, President Trump announced the United States would lift prohibitions against travel from Brazil, Great Britain, and the 26-nation European Schengen Area when a new COVID-19 testing requirement goes into effect on January 26, 2021. (Bans against China and Iran were to remain in place)
But Trump will not longer be in office on that date. And just hours later, incoming Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement on Twitter stating that the Biden Administration would not loosen the ban on travel, effectively overruling the presidential decree.
On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) January 19, 2021
The new Administration will lift the so-called Muslim Travel Ban on Day 1, and rightfully so. But Europeans and British are deemed too much of a risk, despite new requirements that a negative COVID-19 must be presented in order to travel to the United States.
Airlines have lobbied hard to replace border closures with pre-flight testing requirements, but it appears they will get both.
CONCLUSION
I had hoped the new Administration would use a bit more common sense and bit less impotent machismo, but it appears the Biden Administration will continue to restrict travel from nations and lands where it is far less prevalent than in the United States.
Every precaution may slow the spread of the pandemic. Yet here we are nearly a year into it and people remain separated, business remains suspended, and the pain and suffering from lockdowns remains a stark challenge.
Whatever your view on these travel restrictions, let us all hope that widespread vaccinations around the world will allow borders to re-open later this year. And for the record, if a continued travel ban can get this under control quicker, then I will be happy to confess I was wrong. I just don’t see that happening.
Is the charge that Biden blocks travel fair? Is this the right move or too cautious?
This country going to the garbage with Biden.
Folks, I am going to assume this is not Ben Schlappig. He would have texted me before posting that…
The US should just copy what China did and block all international travel until the case load goes down. They should require 2 week mandatory quarantine with 3 PCR tests over that period of time for all visitors.
Domestic flights and the economy are running as normal in China as a result of the policies above.
See: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2021/01/18/chinas-economy-zooms-back-to-its-pre-covid-growth-rate
Clearly not Ben. He would have never made a post without referencing masks.
This is Ben, I texted you Matt….thousands of illegals about to cross illegally and they are doing nothing to stop it. Might as well have Shamala and sleepy Joe stand at the border wall and welcome them in person. They will take care of the illegal alien who broke the law rather than help the American people.
I know this isn’t really Ben, but seeing this troll pretend to be him is pretty darn funny!
The only think Shamala will be good at as VP is giving blowies, but even that will require her putting bag over her head.
Elections have consequences. This is just the beginning.
Over 25,000 troops in DC, razor wire, and green zones for a virtual inauguration. A clear message is being sent who’s in charge now. Unity means- comply with us. Over the last year, BLM and Antifa burned hundreds of buildings, police vehicles, and destroyed countless businesses. When troops were offered by our president, response was – na, not needed. This is only the beginning folks – buckle up.
Snowflake. Screw your feelings.
Yup, thanks to the Trump Terrorists this is what we get
You def have not look at the covid numbers of the European Union and the United Kingdom. In many Cases their numbers are worse. Here is a good site to see the real per capital numbers. United Kingdom is at the top.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/ Surprisingly to me was that Beligum has the worse death numbers per million.
While I understand the underlying argument that Covid cases are soaring again in Europe and have continuously been high in Brazil, you would also have to put in a new travel bans from places like Mexico, Colombia or Indonesia where cases are also exploding, otherwise it doesn’t make any sense.
Long time reader (and lurker) but this time I really wanted to comment since this has impacted me since March when I left USA where my girlfriend works.
I am just wondering… is a travel ban against selected countries, not backed my any metrics (for example XYZ cases per 100k citizens in the previous 14 days) considered discrimination? Since I thought Biden administration was against this.
Good luck Brendon. I hope you are soon united with your girlfriend.
The problem with Brazil is the emergence of variants/mutations, including some specific to the country in addition to the UK and SA strains.
Biden is correct to continue restraints on travel. In six months or so the situation should improve to the point of contemplating loosening.
Trump is determined to do anything he can to make life difficult for the incoming administration, and couldn’t give a flying xxxx about the consequences for the people.
You should get informed before you write anything about other countries you don’t know. Brazil has produced its own vaccines since the country has two of the most reputable research institutes in the world. FYI, the majority of antiophidic serums used to reverse poison from snake bites comes from these places. Anyway, Brazil has started vaccinations and thus people will have the same immunization that we will get here. Also, specific to Brazil, I have a friend of mine, American, who is an expat in Brazil. She has travelled 6 times during the pandemic from Brazil to the US. Every time she landed here she got her temperature taken at the airport and she was free to go. No tests required, no quarantine required, absolutely nothing. Thus, when Trump imposed travel ban he was xenophobic. Now that grandpa Biden wants to keep it he is just protecting American citizens.
Brazil has started vaccines using the Chinese CoronVac. Which is questionable as to its effectiveness. And a President who came right out and stated he is not taking it and it’s not his fault if you get the shot and “turn into an alligator.” So, you have a vaccine that is dubious and a nation that may only get 50% of the population at best to take it.
There is nothing I would like more than to go back to my second home in Brazil. I am used to spending months down there during each year but have not been since January. No way in hell I am going near there anytime soon. Despite my love of the country I agree that allowing tens of thousands of Brazilians to pour into Miami for their annual shopping trips to Aventura is not the best idea at this time as we try to fix our own mess.
Personally I care more about the vaccine rollout to achieve 70% herd immunity ASAP. So many states are stating they don’t have enough vaccines for everyone who wants them. If the Biden administration can achieve that by early summer then kudos to them. Open the country then.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/19/covid-vaccine-dr-scott-gottlieb-estimates-only-120-million-americans-really-want-it.html
Don’t blame Biden for this. The decision was made by his minders. Unfortunately Biden’s dementia doesn’t allow him to make his own decisions anymore.
The world has too many people. Let some die. 1% of world population dying would be good for the planet.
Humans are like parasites and reproducing like insects. Now that Biden is throwing money at everyone i hope they are busy making a list of losers that need to be castrated.
March 2020 – not enough Covid testing availabe. No vaccines available.
Trump suspends travel from Europe to US
April 2020
Pelosi says Trump’s travel ban was not effective in preventing people or coronavirus from entering US
July 2020 – still not enough Covid testing. No vaccines available.
House Democrats just passed a bill to repeal Trump’s travel bans
January 18, 2021 – Covid testing is widely available and vaccines are being offered to public. US plan requests travelers from Europe and Brazil to present a negative Covid test taken no more than 72 hours prior to flight
Trump lifts Europe, Brazil coronavirus travel bans
January 18, 2021
Biden to Block Trump’s Plan to Lift COVID-19 Travel Restrictions to Europe and Brazil
I have dual U.S.-EU citizenship, so this doesn’t impact me and I visited Europe last fall, but I think this is insane and Biden is going to double-down on keeping the borders closed until cases are extremely low, just so he doesn’t look “irresponsible” or like he’s “doing what Trump wanted.” Our politics are toxic and awful. The Europeans want the borders reopened, too.
@James: I have three passports so no matter what they do it won’t really affect me. However, the problem here is the hypocrisy of the reactions. Grandpa Biden and all Democratic party said many times that the travel ban imposed by Trump was a terrible decision and he was xenophobic and racist for putting that in place. You can see that the Democrat controlled House passed a bill repealing the travel ban. Now, just because Trump decided to lift the ban, Grandpa Biden will block it and keep the ban. As you said, toxic and awful are probably the only words I can use in this blog to express how I feel about politics.
So, after Trump opens them, Biden can be the xenophobic one to block people from coming in. Now, now, children. Let’s remember we’re talking about the future of the world here.
Yes but at least Biden is removing all the travel restrictions on Islamic terrorist countries.
Yes, because they don’t have Covid. Got it.
Trump did this on purpose. He is screwing with Biden. It’s kind of funny in a twisted way.
Get ready for the Biden-Harris lockdown… It will get ugly! Hope his voters enjoy it all and the NEW TAXES<NEW RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS!!!!!and ……..good luck
Dee….you’re not rich enough to feel any pain from any Biden tax increases, it only hits those over $400K. Learn already.
Yes, Dee. We are coming for your guns. Your money. And your cases of Fireball miniatures. Look outside your window and you will see the stalking masses of the woke ready to grab it all tomorrow at noon. I bet there will probably be a few immigrants as well that just arrived here peering into your window. Oh boy, they are pissed off enough as to maybe even take your job.
Matthew, very disappointing to see your agreement of lifting the so called Muslim travel ban.
The ban was put into place in 2017 against governments who could not provide proper documentation, vetting or identification information for citizens traveling to the United States. It has nothing to do with with religion but security.
The recent lifting of travel restrictions due to the pandemic by Trump shows he is still concerned about safety and freedom as long as a traveler is tested negative. So what does Biden’s decisions tell us? Very poor, amateur decision by Biden.