Mereja.Forum

[YAY]

Dear All: Recent American entry visa restrictions on Eritreans

These comments are not official, but are meant for providing helpful information or suggestions as a public service.

Proclamation on Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry

National Security & Defense Issued on: January 31, 2020

Why is America doing entry permit restrictions?
For reasons of national security, especially taking precaution in stopping terrorists, etc. getting in to America.

In Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), I temporarily suspended entry of nationals of certain specified countries and ordered a worldwide review of whether the United States would need additional information from each foreign country to assess adequately whether nationals of that foreign country seeking to enter the United States pose a security or public-safety threat to the United States, and if so, what additional information was needed. The Secretary of Homeland Security, pursuant to Executive Order 13780 and in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, developed an assessment model using three categories of criteria to assess national security and public-safety threats: whether a foreign government engages in reliable identity-management practices and shares relevant information; whether a foreign government shares national security and public-safety information; and whether a country otherwise poses a national security or public-safety risk. [....]

Can a country be removed from this ban?
Yes. Chad has improved and has already been removed from entry visa restrictions on its regular nationals.

In Proclamation 9645, I suspended and limited the entry into the United States of certain nationals of eight countries that failed to satisfy the criteria and were unable or unwilling to improve their information sharing, or that otherwise presented serious terrorism-related risks. Those travel restrictions remain in effect today, with one exception.... removing travel restrictions on nationals of the Republic of Chad. Chad had improved its identity-management and information-sharing practices by taking steps to issue more secure passports and by increasing the integrity of how its government handles lost and stolen passports. Chad also began to share information about known or suspected terrorists in a manner that makes that information available to the United States screening and vetting programs, and it created a new, standardized process for the United States to request relevant criminal information. ... DHS conducted its most recent, worldwide review pursuant to Proclamation 9645 between March 2019 and September 2019. [....]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential ... ted-entry/
https://www.federalregister.gov/documen ... ted-states

[YAY]

Which countries are included in this entry permit suspension?
Eritrea is one of six countries --- 2 Asian and 3 other African.

Since the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security issued his report on September 13, 2019, the Secretary of State, consistent with section 4(b) of Proclamation 9645, has continued to engage many foreign governments regarding the deficiencies identified in DHS’s report and has continued to consult with the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, and other Cabinet-level officials about how best to protect the national interest. Based on these engagements, in January 2020, those senior officials recommended that I maintain the entry restrictions adopted in Proclamation 9645 (as modified by Proclamation 9723), and that I exercise my authority under section 212(f) of the INA to suspend entry into the United States for nationals of six new countries — Burma (Myanmar), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania — until those countries address their identified deficiencies.

Does this mean America considers Eritrea unfriendly or an enemy?
No. Each of these countries is cooperating with the U.S. of America in counter-terrorism, and the U.S. has experienced deepening ties and increased cooperation in foreign policy goals, and all these countries have said they will do better. Good riddance with Obama policies---his policies (subduing Eritrea by all means) were the obstacle to peace between Etiyopiya and Eritrea.

Why do the talk about five countries instead of six?
One of the six countries has already improved its deficiencies in the last 3 months to lower degree of risk. All countries could be removed from the restrictions within 180 days.

The January 2020 proposal recommended visa restrictions on fewer countries than identified by the September 2019 DHS report. For example, the January 2020 proposal recommended no entry restrictions on nationals of one country that had been recommended for restrictions in the September 2019 report. This country made exceptional progress in correcting deficiencies since the September 2019 report, such that it could no longer be characterized as a country that is among those posing the highest degree of risk. In addition, the January 2020 proposal recommended that, for five poorly performing countries, foreign policy interests warranted a different approach than recommended in the September 2019 report. Specifically, the January 2020 proposal suggested that diplomatic engagement and requests for specific improvements during a defined 180-day period would be more appropriate and more likely to result in immediate improvements in these five countries. Each of these five countries provides critical counterterrorism cooperation with the United States and therefore holds strategic importance in countering malign external actors. In several of the five countries, the United States has experienced a recent deepening of diplomatic ties that generally mark increased cooperation toward achieving key regional and global United States foreign policy goals. Importantly, all five countries have credibly communicated willingness to work directly with the United States Government to correct their outstanding deficiencies, and the United States believes progress is imminent for several countries and underway for others. For these reasons, these countries will be given an opportunity to show specific improvements in their deficiencies within the next 180 days.

Are all entry visas suspended for Eritreans?
No, only certain selected visas are.

Consistent with recommendations contained in the January 2020 proposal, I have decided to leave unaltered the existing entry restrictions imposed by Proclamation 9645, as amended by Proclamation 9723, and to impose tailored entry restrictions and limitations on nationals from six additional countries. I have decided not to impose any nonimmigrant visa restrictions for the newly identified countries, which substantially reduces the number of people affected by the proposed restrictions. Like the seven countries that continue to face travel restrictions pursuant to Proclamation 9645, the six additional countries recommended for restrictions in the January 2020 proposal are among the worst performing in the world. However, there are prospects for near-term improvement for these six countries. Each has a functioning government and each maintains productive relations with the United States. Most of the newly identified countries have expressed a willingness to work with the United States to address their deficiencies, although it may take some time to identify and implement specific solutions to resolve the deficiencies.
Consistent with the January 2020 proposal, I have prioritized restricting immigrant visa travel over nonimmigrant visa travel because of the challenges of removing an individual in the United States who was admitted with an immigrant visa if, after admission to the United States, the individual is discovered to have terrorist connections, criminal ties, or misrepresented information. Because each of the six additional countries identified in the January 2020 proposal has deficiencies in sharing terrorist, criminal, or identity information, there is an unacceptable likelihood that information reflecting the fact that a visa applicant is a threat to national security or public safety may not be available at the time the visa or entry is approved....

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential ... ted-entry/
https://www.federalregister.gov/documen ... ted-states

[YAY]

What are Eritrea's deficiencies in American security requirements?
Read below here. I think it might need to negotiate with America on Eritrean policy of not accepting forcefully deported nationals in. Eritrea may consider giving the deportees some legal guarantees for their safety in Eritrea that satisfies America and deportees, or alternatives of going out somewhere else, too. The rest seem to be technical matters.

(c) Eritrea
(i) [1] Eritrea does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics.

[2] Eritrea does not issue electronic passports or adequately share several types of information, including public-safety and terrorism-related information, that are necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the United States.

[3] Further, Eritrea is currently subject to several nonimmigrant visa restrictions.

[4] Eritrea does not accept return of its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States, which further magnifies the challenges of removing its nationals who have entered with immigrant visas.

[5] Eritrea has engaged with the United States about its deficiencies, but it also requires significant reforms to its border security, travel-document security, and information-sharing infrastructure.

[6] Improvements in these areas will increase its opportunities to come into compliance with the United States Government’s identity-management and information-sharing criteria.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Eritrea as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended. [....]

Could an Eritrean still apply for new visas? I think all new entry permits must be completed and done before February 22, 2020.. Otherwise, one has to wait until Eritrea is removed from the visa restrictions For further information contact embassies or go to the links below.

Sec. 4. Effective Date. This proclamation is effective at 12:01 am eastern standard time on February 21, 2020. With respect to the application of those provisions of Proclamation 9645 that are incorporated here through section 2 for countries designated in section 1(b), and that contained their own effective dates, those dates are correspondingly updated to be January 31, 2020, or February 21, 2020, as appropriate.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential ... ted-entry/
https://www.federalregister.gov/documen ... ted-states

[Ethoash]

YAY,

Eritrean are very happy with this entry visa restriction because 98% of so called Eritrean refugee r according to Eritrean are Golden.. they were happy when the asylum refugee center closed in Golden state.. call it win for Eritrea because they claim all those so called refugee were Agame pretending to be Eritrean so the latest visa restriction will not affect them .. it only affect the Agame pretender ....

[DefendTheTruth]

YAY,

But why should the issue of VISA restriction of a third country be such a concern for a country which claimed to have become free and independent from anybody before 3 decades and ever sincne celebrating the event lavishly every year, in fact in many palaces around the world?

Do I see some sort of a paradox here?

[Ethoash]

YAY,

But why should the issue of VISA restriction of a third country be such a concern for a country which claimed to have become free and independent from anybody before 3 decades and ever sincne celebrating the event lavishly every year, in fact in many palaces around the world?

Do I see some sort of a paradox here?

then what should your be your concern about YaY concern .. he is free person to be concerned or not .

አንተ ምን አግብቶት ነው የምትል ከሆነ እንተስ ምን አግብቶህ ነው በYAY ጎዳይ የፈለገውን ቢያረግ

[YAY]

Hi Ethoash: This is not the time to talk about Tegaru imposters, but Eritreans first

When time came to defend Eritrea's freedom, some of us wanted personal freedoms and left home but c. 2% met their own deaths, while those who together faced death at home saved lives, homes and their national freedom. That created an opportunity for Tegaru to use. Some Tegaru, through theft of Eritrean identities aided by TPLF authorities, took advantage of the opportunities to better their own lives at the expense of Eritreans. Many of the 366 Eritrean lives that perished in the Lampedusa boat tragedy reportedly made desperate moves after they discovered their identities were stolen by Tigraiyan imposters. As a result, 40% to 60% of those so-called Eritrean refuges in Europe turned out to be non-Eritreans (mostly believed to be Tegaru). This is not the time to devise a policy about Tegaru imposters. It is time to focus on improvising and reducing Eritrean sufferings and turn things for the better.

YAY,

Eritrean are very happy with this entry visa restriction because 98% of so called Eritrean refugee r according to Eritrean are Golden.. they were happy when the asylum refugee center closed in Golden state.. call it win for Eritrea because they claim all those so called refugee were Agame pretending to be Eritrean so the latest visa restriction will not affect them .. it only affect the Agame pretender ....

[YAY]

Dear DefendTheTruth: The mysteries of life: you cannot solve them but discover them and deal with them

You are right that the two ( national independence vs. another country's visa restrictions) look like a paradox/contradiction: we are politically independent and somewhat dependent on others in other ways, for all nations are,in this day and age, to an extent interdependent on each other. It is not the visas that are that significant unless tied together with other (security and trade, etc.) related matters. Eritreans migrate to America in the amount of a few hundred a year. That is very small a number. Talking of numbers: what number of suspected terrorists do you think America wants to cross its borders? Zero. So Eritreans must be vetted too. America is terrorized by terrorists, and wants other countries to do their best to keep its safety, and help other countries, like Eritrea, keep themselves safer. That is a mutual interest, and requires cooperation.

And Eritrea doesn't want to remain isolated in order to remain independent. It desires to have better relations with American, European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian nations to advance its own national interests. The Red Sea along Eritrea and generally the Horn of Africa is an important maritime route for world trade. Those nations with whom we could trade goods, services and technologies have a strategic aim of making our region safer. Their aim is also our aim in this regard, and the need to cooperate while keeping our political independence or interdependence is understandable. The entry visas of Eritreans to America, I believe, are part and parcel of that interdependence. The needs of Eritreans to travel in/out of America safely, do their business, as well as their problems addressed/resolved is also a desirable public service for own citizens.

Eritrea has also learned a lesson or two from its own experience, and human history at large. As Charles Darwin had said,

In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.

YAY,

But why should the issue of VISA restriction of a third country be such a concern for a country which claimed to have become free and independent from anybody before 3 decades and ever sincne celebrating the event lavishly every year, in fact in many palaces around the world?

Do I see some sort of a paradox here?

[Degnet]

These are the most evil ones,they do not even agree on what they say,they are cancer and putting us in danger,individually and collectively.

[Degnet]

These are the most evil ones,they do not even agree on what they say,they are cancer and putting us in danger,individually and collectively.

Gin Wolqaiyt Amara New

Tigray must return all stolen lands

First Tigray need to get rid of such people and the TPLF under them then we will talk.We have become barbarians under them.
Tigray Fight
Ethoash
Thomas H.
Halafi Mengedi
Abdelaziz,none of them from Enderta.Mahalana told us that he was from Agame,no body taught them about real identity and what the fear of God is.I have never thought that such people exist,dirty fools.

[Degnet]

GIN WOLQAIYT AMARA NEW SAY IT @Dogent

Koshasha ahya lela men sera aleh ena,I am an Endertan and no body cares about you.Be were ensemaw neber

[Degnet]

CURSED SON OF LCFR DOGNET DEATH TO ENDERTA AND ENDERTA PEOPLEEES

I will perish with my enemies,Samson.Wube did not touch the land of the Endertans

[DefendTheTruth]

Dear DefendTheTruth: The mysteries of life: you cannot solve them but discover them and deal with them

You are right that the two ( national independence vs. another country's visa restrictions) look like a paradox/contradiction: we are politically independent and somewhat dependent on others in other ways, for all nations are,in this day and age, to an extent interdependent on each other. It is not the visas that are that significant unless tied together with other (security and trade, etc.) related matters. Eritreans migrate to America in the amount of a few hundred a year. That is very small a number. Talking of numbers: what number of suspected terrorists do you think America wants to cross its borders? Zero. So Eritreans must be vetted too. America is terrorized by terrorists, and wants other countries to do their best to keep its safety, and help other countries, like Eritrea, keep themselves safer. That is a mutual interest, and requires cooperation.

And Eritrea doesn't want to remain isolated in order to remain independent. It desires to have better relations with American, European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian nations to advance its own national interests. The Red Sea along Eritrea and generally the Horn of Africa is an important maritime route for world trade. Those nations with whom we could trade goods, services and technologies have a strategic aim of making our region safer. Their aim is also our aim in this regard, and the need to cooperate while keeping our political independence or interdependence is understandable. The entry visas of Eritreans to America, I believe, are part and parcel of that interdependence. The needs of Eritreans to travel in/out of America safely, do their business, as well as their problems addressed/resolved is also a desirable public service for own citizens.

Eritrea has also learned a lesson or two from its own experience, and human history at large. As Charles Darwin had said,

In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.

YAY,

But why should the issue of VISA restriction of a third country be such a concern for a country which claimed to have become free and independent from anybody before 3 decades and ever sincne celebrating the event lavishly every year, in fact in many palaces around the world?

Do I see some sort of a paradox here?

Dear YAY,

my comment here is not related to the usual business relationship between nations of the world, and I am not sure if the VISA-restrictions were imposed with regard to such relationships. I thought it is more likely with regard to the issue of refugees in the world and I think to have heard that Eritrea's name was raised many times in the past specifically with this issue and not so much with other issues you have raised in your reply.

So, I beg you to understand my comment in such a context. In fact it is not only America but many other western countries have raised similar concerns of issues with regard to Eritrea as one of the top refugee producing countries in Africa in the past and I assume America's concern also go in the same direction, but you can correct me.