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DHS Releases Details for Fully Vaccinated, Non-Citizen Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land and Ferry Border Crossings

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that non-citizen travelers who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation will be permitted to enter the United States via land ports of entry (POE) and ferry terminals starting on November 8, 2021. This shift eases long-standing restrictions on non-essential travel, consistent with public health guidance. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will soon share additional information about the steps eligible travelers will need to take to enter the United States under the new rules.

“We are pleased to take another step toward easing travel restrictions at our borders in a manner that strengthens our economy and protects the health and safety of the American public,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas . “We continue working closely with our international partners to sustainably implement new rules for resuming travel.”

Starting November 8, when arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal, non-citizen travelers should be prepared to (1) provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website; and (2) verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.

Any non-citizen attempting to enter the United States through illegal means or without appropriate documentation may be subject to expulsion or removal. Travelers arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal should be prepared to present any other relevant documents as requested by a CBP Officer. U.S. citizens are reminded to bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) document, such as a valid U.S. passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or Enhanced Tribal Card, when re-entering the country and be prepared to present a WHTI-compliant document if requested by a CBP Officer during a border inspection. To learn more about the updated requirements for travelers, click here .

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, CBP implemented temporary travel restrictions on March 20, 2020, which limited travel at land POEs along the U.S. northern and southern borders to essential travel, including travel for lawful trade, emergency response, and public health purposes. Individuals engaged in essential travel will not be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 at this time. Starting in January 2022, however, all inbound foreign national travelers seeking to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination.

As travel begins to resume, travel volumes and wait times are expected to increase. Travelers should plan for longer than normal wait times and long lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are reminded to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP One™ mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

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Statement regarding vaccination requirements for noncitizen nonimmigrant air travelers entering the United States

Beginning November 8, 2021, all non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to traveling to the United States, to meet the President’s proclamation and CDC orders . These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a negative test no more than three days prior to the flight’s departure. Limited exceptions apply.

According to CDC requirements , all air passengers two years of age or older traveling internationally, regardless of vaccination status, must provide a negative test to the airline before boarding the flight.

• Passengers fully vaccinated must provide a negative test no more than three days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country, in addition to showing proof of vaccination.
• Passengers over two years of age not fully vaccinated must provide a negative test no more than one day before the flight’s departure.  Except in the limited circumstances allowed by CDC, unvaccinated travelers will be US citizens and legal permanent residents.

Those who recently recovered from COVID-19 may travel with documentation of recovery and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official indicating the patient is cleared for travel.

For more information on this new travel requirement, visit TSA.gov.

For more information about accepted COVID-19 vaccines and verification documents, visit https://www.cdc.gov .

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Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Releases Additional Detail for Implementing a Safer, More Stringent International Air Travel   System

As we continue to work to protect people from COVID-19, today, the Biden Administration is releasing additional detail around implementation of the new international air travel policy requiring foreign national travelers to the United States to be fully vaccinated. This updated policy puts in place an international travel system that is stringent, consistent across the globe, and guided by public health. Starting on November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the U.S., with only limited exceptions. The updated travel guidelines also include new protocols around testing. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers – whether U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to test within one day of departure. Today, the Administration is releasing the following documents to implement these requirements: 1) a Presidential Proclamation to Advance the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic; 2) three Centers for Disease Control and  Prevention (CDC) Orders on vaccination, testing, and contact tracing; and 3) technical instructions to provide implementation details to the airlines and their passengers.  With science and public health as our guide, the United States has developed a new international air travel system that both enhances the safety of Americans here at home and enhances the safety of international air travel. The additional detail released today provides airlines and international air travelers with time to prepare for this new policy ahead of the November 8 implementation date. As previously announced, fully vaccinated foreign nationals will also be able to travel across the Northern and Southwest land borders for non-essential reasons, such as tourism, starting on November 8. Additional detail on amendments to restrictions with respect to land borders will be available in the coming days. Travelers can find full details about today’s air travel announcement on the CDC and Department of State websites.  A summary is below: Fully Vaccinated Status:

• Starting on November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the U.S.

Proof of Vaccination:

• For foreign nationals, proof of vaccination will be required – with very limited exceptions – to board the plane.
• Match the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination;
• Determine that the record was issued by an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency) in the country where the vaccine was given;
• Review the essential information for determining if the passenger meets CDC’s definition for fully vaccinated such as vaccine product, number of vaccine doses received, date(s) of administration, site (e.g., vaccination clinic, health care facility) of vaccination.
• The Biden Administration will work closely with the airlines to ensure that these new requirements are implemented successfully.

Accepted Vaccines:

• CDC has determined that for purposes of travel to the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listed (EUL) vaccines.
• Individuals can be considered fully vaccinated ≥2 weeks after receipt of the last dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO EUL approved single-dose series (i.e., Janssen), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series (i.e. mixing and matching).
• More details are available in the CDC Annex here .

Enhanced Testing:

• Previously, all travelers were required to produce a negative viral test result within three days of travel to the United States.
• Both nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), such as a PCR test, and antigen tests qualify.
• As announced in September, the new system tightens those requirements, so that unvaccinated U.S. Citizens and LPRs will need to provide a negative test taken within one day of traveling.
• That means that all fully vaccinated U.S. Citizens and LPRs traveling to the United States should be prepared to present documentation of their vaccination status alongside their negative test result.
• For those Americans who can show they are fully vaccinated, the same requirement currently in place will apply – they have to produce a negative test result within three days of travel.
• For anyone traveling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure.

Requirements for Children:

• Children under 18 are excepted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travelers, given both the ineligibility of some younger children for vaccination, as well as the global variability in access to vaccination for older children who are eligible to be vaccinated.
• Children between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test.
• If traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, an unvaccinated child can test three days prior to departure (consistent with the timeline for fully vaccinated adults). If an unvaccinated child is traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults, they will have to test within one day of departure.

Limited Exceptions from the Vaccination Requirement:

• There are a very limited set of exceptions from the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals. These include exceptions for children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants, those with medical contraindications to the vaccines, those who need to travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons (with a US government-issued letter affirming the urgent need to travel), those who are traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with low-vaccine availability (as determined by the CDC), and other very narrow categories.
• Those who receive an exception will generally be required to attest they will comply with applicable public health requirements, including, with very limited exceptions, a requirement that they be vaccinated in the U.S. if they intend to stay here for more than 60 days.

Contact Tracing:

• The CDC is also issuing a Contact Tracing Order that requires all airlines flying into the United States to keep on hand – and promptly turn over to the CDC, when needed – contact information that will allow public health officials to follow up with inbound air travelers who are potentially infected or have been exposed to someone who is infected.
• This is a critical public health measure both to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of new variants of COVID-19 as well as to add a critical prevention tool to address other public health threats.

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Guide for Undocumented Individuals Traveling in the U.S.

Themes/Topics: Law & Policy

Geography: California, National

Audience: Ally, Educator, Undocumented Youth

Introduction

Traveling in the U.S. can be a complicated and stressful process for anyone—even more so if you’re undocumented! But it doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re thinking of traveling as an undocumented person (with or without DACA) and are curious about how to travel safely, read on. Safe travels, undocu-travelers!

Introduction Domestic Flights Ground Transportation: Public Buses & Trains Ground Transportation: Driving Traveling to U.S. Territories

Domestic Flights

All travelers flying on a domestic flight must present a valid (unexpired) photo ID issued by the state or federal government. Undocumented individuals may use the following forms of ID accepted by TSA:

• State photo identity card
• State driver’s license
• Military ID
• Foreign passport (must be unexpired 1 )
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Employment Authorization Card
• Trusted traveler cards such as the NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST cards issued by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”)
• Border-crossing cards
• Native American tribal ID cards
• Airline or airport photo ID cards issued in compliance with TSA regulations and transportation worker ID credential

For a full list of TSA-acceptable forms of ID click here .

FAQ Regarding Domestic Flights

Yes, as noted above, the list of approved identification to fly domestically includes foreign government-issued passports (must be valid) and/or a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766). There have been reports of individuals who were not able to fly with these documents due to erroneous TSA agent denials. In such instances, inform the TSA agent that according to posted Transportation Security Administration guidelines, these are acceptable documents. Here is the link: tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

We recommend that you review TSA’s most up-to-date guidelines before your domestic flight.

Ground Transportation: Public Buses & Trains

There have been reports, especially during the Trump Administration, of Border Patrol agents conducting immigration checks without warrants on buses and trains, such as Greyhound and Amtrak. Although Customs Border Patrol (CBP) has publicly said that its agents are prohibited from boarding buses/trains and questioning passengers without warrants or a company’s consent, it’s a good idea for any passenger to be aware of the following rights:

• You have the right to remain silent.
• When in doubt, do not answer questions about your citizenship or immigration status or sign any paperwork without the advice of a lawyer. Do not lie – silence is often better.
• If you have valid immigration papers, you can provide them. Never provide false documents.
• You can refuse a search of your belongings by saying “I do not consent to a search.”
• You have the right to record video of immigration agents.
• If you are stopped or searched, you have the right to ask for the officer’s name / ID number.

FAQ Regarding Ground Transportation

Ground transportation: driving.

Like citizens, certain non-citizens may be eligible to drive legally. In some states, certain non-citizens are eligible to apply for a driver’s license. Check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to determine if you are eligible to apply for a driver’s license regardless of your immigration status. If you are stopped by either law enforcement or immigration enforcement while in your car, consider the following recommendations:

• Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way, and place your hands on the wheel.
• Upon request, show the police your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance.
• If an officer or immigration agent asks to search your car, you can refuse. However, if the police believe your car contains evidence of a crime, they can search it without your consent.
• Both drivers and passengers have the right to remain silent. If you’re a passenger, you can also ask if you’re free to leave. If yes, silently leave.

FAQ Regarding Driving

Below are some noted checkpoints within California. Be prepared. Plan your route of travel and check before traveling.

• San Clemente: located 7 miles south of San Clemente on Interstate 5.
• Temecula: located 24 miles north of Escondido on Interstate 15.
• Highway 79: located 1 mile west of Sunshine Summit.
• I-8 West: located 3 miles east of Pine Valley on Interstate 8.
• Highway 94: located 24 miles east of San Diego on California State Route 94.
• Highway 78/86: located just south of the intersection of California State Routes 78 and 86, just west of the Salton Sea, controlling northbound traffic only.
• Highway 111: located between Niland and Bombay Beach.
• Highway S2: located 7 miles north of Ocotillo and I-8 in eastern San Diego County on S2 (Imperial Hwy/Sweeney Pass Road) between I-8 and State Route 78.

Traveling to U.S. Territories

Undocumented individuals who hold a temporary protection (e.g. TPS/DACA-recipients) may travel to the U.S. Territories without Advance Parole. However, it’s important to know where and how to safely travel overseas to the U.S. Territories.

IMPORTANT : Traveling to the U.S Territories without DACA, even though a person has never technically left the U.S., could result in a referral to ICE for removal.

You may also find the following information on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) website helpful.

[1] If you’re traveling with an expired license or passport you may still be able to fly. Acceptable forms of ID cannot be more than 12 months past the identified expiration date. Click here for more information.

This resource was created by Jesús Flores Rodríguez with editing support from Claire Calderón and Denia Pérez, Esq.

Immigrants Rising helps you make decisions based on your potential, not your perceived limits. Visit our website so you can see what’s possible: immigrantsrising.org . For inquiries regarding this resource, please contact Jesus Flores, Legal Services Coordinator, at [email protected] . Revised 9/2023.

Related Resource:

• Guía para personas indocumentadas que viajan en EE.UU.

Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now

You may want to reconsider traveling to these countries right now.

Do Not Travel to These Countries

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Crime, civil unrest and terrorism are common risk factors for countries that end up on the State Department's "Do Not Travel" advisory list.

In 2024, tourism across the globe is “well on track” to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to projections by UN Tourism.

Global conflicts and natural disasters , ranging from a series of coups across Africa to catastrophic earthquakes in the Middle East affected international travel patterns throughout 2023. Still, international tourist arrivals reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, according to estimates by UN Tourism .

In January 2024 alone, about 4.6 million U.S. citizens left the country for international destinations, 17% higher than the same month in 2019, according to the International Trade Administration . But some destinations warrant more caution than others.

On Oct. 19, 2023, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza and flaring tensions in the region, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution advisory due to “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.” Prior to this update, the most recent worldwide caution advisory was issued in 2022 after a U.S. strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s successor as leader of Al Qaeda, causing “a higher potential for anti-American violence.” The worldwide caution advisory remains in effect.

The U.S. State Department also issues individual travel advisory levels for more than 200 countries globally, continually updating them based on a variety of risk indicators such as health, terrorism and civil unrest. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1, which means exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, which means do not travel there.

About 10% of countries – 19 total – have a Level 4: “Do Not Travel” advisory as of Mar. 4. In Level 4 countries, the U.S. government may have “very limited ability” to step in should travelers’ safety or security be at risk, according to the State Department. Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism are common risk factors associated with Level 4 countries.

So far in 2024, the State Department made changes to the existing Level 4 advisories for Myanmar, Iran and Gaza, and moved Niger and Lebanon off of the Level 4 list.

Places With a Level 4 Travel Advisory

These are the primary areas the U.S. government says not to travel to right now, in alphabetical order:

Jump to Place: Afghanistan Belarus Burkina Faso Central African Republic Myanmar (formerly Burma) Gaza Haiti Iran Iraq Libya Mali Mexico North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine Venezuela Yemen

Afghanistan: The Central Asian country is wrestling with “terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and crime,” according to the State Department. U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for wrongful detention and kidnapping. In 2022, the government reinstituted public floggings and executions, and women’s rights are disappearing under Taliban control. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul halted operations in August 2021. Since the Taliban took control , many forms of international aid have been halted . Meanwhile, in 2023, some of the year’s deadliest earthquakes killed more than 2,400 in Afghanistan while the country continues to face a years-long extreme drought.

Belarus: Belarus, which shares a western border with Russia and a southern border with Ukraine, has been flagged for “Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.” The U.S. Embassy in Minsk halted operations in February 2022.

Burkina Faso: Terrorism, crime and kidnapping are plaguing this West African nation. Terrorist attacks may target hotels, restaurants and schools with little to no warning, and the East and Sahel regions of the country are under a state of emergency. In late November 2023, hundreds died in clashes between state security forces and rebels near the country’s border with Mali. In June, more than 2 million people in Burkina Faso were displaced due to “violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.”

Central African Republic: While there have not been specific incidents of U.S. citizens targeted with violence or crime, violent crime and sudden closure of roads and borders is common. The advisory states that “Embassy Bangui’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping” is a factor in its assessment. Recent data from UNICEF suggests the country has the worst drinking water accessibility of all countries in 2022.

Myanmar (Formerly Burma): Armed conflict and civil unrest are the primary reasons to not travel to this Southeast Asian country, which experienced a military coup in early 2021. Limited health care resources, wrongful detentions and “areas with land mines and unexploded ordnance” are also listed as risk factors. After Ukraine and Israel, Myanmar had the highest conflict-related death toll in 2023.

Gaza : Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the State Department, controls much of the Gaza Strip, which shares borders with both Israel and Egypt. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas fighters broke across the border into Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers in a brazen attack that stunned Israelis. On Oct. 10, Israel hit the Gaza Strip with “the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year conflict” according to Reuters . The conflict has since escalated into war between Israel and Hamas, with regular Israeli airstrikes leading to extensive civilian casualties in Gaza. As of mid-December, nearly 85% of Gaza’s population were displaced from their homes, according to UN estimates . The region continues to face shortages of food , water, electricity and medical supplies , with conditions deemed “far beyond a humanitarian crisis.” The State Department warns of terrorism and armed conflict within Gaza’s borders.

Haiti: In July 2023, the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in response to the increased risk of kidnapping and violent crime in the country , as well as armed conflict between gangs and police. The travel advisory states that cases of kidnapping “often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings.” The travel advisory also states that “U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible” given “the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.” A series of gang attacks in late September 2023 caused thousands to flee their homes, and many aid groups have been forced to cut or suspend operations amid escalating violence in recent months.

Iran: Terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest are risk factors for all travelers to Iran, while U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for “arbitrary arrest.” U.S.-Iranian nationals such as students, journalists and business travelers have been arrested on charges of espionage and threatening national security. Executions in Iran rose sharply between 2021 and 2022, bringing the country’s total to nearly 580 people over the year, according to a report by Amnesty International released in May 2023.

Iraq: The State Department cites “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict [and] civil unrest” as cause for the country’s Level 4 distinction. Iraq’s northern borders, and its border with Syria, are especially dangerous. Since the escalation of conflict in neighboring Israel in October, there has been an increase in attacks against Iraqi military bases, which host U.S. troops and other international forces. In October 2023, non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members were ordered to leave the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Libya: Following the end of its dictatorship over a decade ago, Libya has been wrought with internal conflict between armed groups in the East and West. Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, kidnapping and terrorism are all risk factors. U.S. citizens have been targets of kidnapping for ransom, with terrorists targeting hotels and airports frequented by Westerners. The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli halted operations in 2014. In mid-September 2023, floods, which some say were intensified by climate change , killed thousands in eastern Libya. Clashes between armed factions escalated across the country in the latter half of 2023, including in the capital city of Tripoli and in Benghazi.

Mali: After experiencing military coups in 2020 and 2021, crime, terrorism and kidnapping are all prevalent threats in this West African landlocked nation. In July 2022, non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families were ordered to leave the country due to higher risk of terrorist activity. A U.N. report in August 2023 said that military groups in the country, including both Mali security forces and possibly Russian Wagner mercenaries, were spreading terror through the use of violence against women and human rights abuses. Democratic elections were supposed to occur in February 2024, but Mali’s military junta postponed the plans indefinitely. In December, the U.N. officially ended a decade-long peacekeeping presence in the country, which had been among the agency’s deadliest missions, with hundreds of the mission personnel killed since 2013.

Mexico: Each state in Mexico is assessed separately for travel advisory levels. Six of the 32 states in Mexico are designated as Level 4: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Crime and kidnapping are listed as the primary risk factors throughout the country. Nearly 112,000 people were missing across the country as of October, a number the U.N. has called “alarming.”

North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea): U.S. passports are not valid for travel “to, in, or through” this country, home to one of the world's longest-running dynastic dictatorships. The travel advisory states that the Level 4 distinction is due to “the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals.” In July 2023, a U.S. soldier fled across the border into North Korea, where he is believed to be in North Korean custody, the first American detained in the North in nearly five years. He was returned to U.S. custody in September 2023.

Russia: The travel advisory for Russia cites its invasion of Ukraine , harassment of U.S. citizens by Russian government officials and arbitrary law enforcement as a few of the reasons for the Level 4 designation. Chechnya and Mount Elbrus are specifically listed as Level 4 regions. Terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping and wrongful detention are all noted as risks.

Russia Invades Ukraine: A Timeline

Somalia: A severe drought resulting from five failed rainy seasons in a row killed 43,000 people in 2022, and caused a famine amid conflict with Islamist insurgents . Violent crime is common throughout Somalia , pirates frequent its coast off the Horn of Africa, and medical facilities, where they exist, have limited capacity. Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health and kidnapping are all risk factors. In January 2024, some passengers aboard a U.N.-contracted helicopter were taken hostage by al-Shabaab militants after the vehicle crashed in central Somalia.

South Sudan: Crime, kidnapping and armed conflict are the primary risk factors for South Sudan, which separated from Sudan in 2011, making it the world’s newest country . Weapons are readily available, and travelers have been victims of sexual assault and armed robbery.

Sudan: The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Khartoum in April 2023, and the country closed its airspace due to the ongoing conflict in the country, only permitting humanitarian aid and evacuation efforts. Fighting has escalated in the region between two warring generals seeking to gain control after a military coup in 2021 ousted the country’s prime minister. Civil unrest is the primary risk factor for Africa’s third largest country by area. Crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict are also noted. The International Criminal Court began investigating alleged war crimes and violence against African ethnic groups in the country in 2023. Millions have fled their homes due to conflict, and the U.N. has said its efforts to provide aid have been hindered by a lack of support, safety and resources. As recently as December 2023, the United Nations warned of catastrophic famine , with millions of children at-risk for malnutrition .

Syria: The advisory states that “No part of Syria is safe from violence,” with terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and risk of unjust detention all potential risk factors. U.S. citizens are often a target for kidnappings and detention. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus halted operations in 2012. Fighting in neighboring Israel has escalated since October, and the conflict has spilled over into Syria, where the U.S. has carried out air strikes following drone and rocket attacks against American troops in Syria and Iraq, triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

Ukraine: Russian setbacks in their invasion of Ukraine buoyed hopes in Ukraine in 2023. However, Ukraine is a Level 4 country due to Russia’s invasion, with crime and civil unrest also noted as risk factors. The country’s forces shot down two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve 2023, in a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.”

Venezuela: Human rights abuses and lack of health care plague this South American nation, which has been in a political crisis since 2014. In 2019, diplomatic personnel were withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Threats in the country include crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, wrongful detention and poor health infrastructure.

Yemen: Six of the nine risk factors defined by the State Department – terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict and landmines – are all present in Yemen. Despite private companies offering tourist visits to the Yemeni island of Socotra, the U.S. government argues those arranging such visits “are putting tourists in danger.” Civil war and cholera are also both present throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa halted operations in 2015. The country has experienced a relative lull in the civil war fighting, but as peace negotiations have gotten traction, flare ups in the fighting have jeopardized progress. Most recently, the U.S. and U.K. have carried out a series of airstrikes in the country, targeting Iran-backed Houthi sites.

Other Countries to Watch

Since Jan. 1, the State Department has updated travel advisories for 17 different countries as well as for the West Bank and Gaza, adding information about specific regions or risk factors, or simply renewing an existing advisory. Travel advisory levels can change based on several factors in a nation, such as increased civil unrest, policies that affect human rights or higher risks of unlawful detention.

The State Department has given about 25 countries an assessment of Level 3, meaning it recommends people “reconsider travel” to those destinations.

On Oct. 14, one week after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, Israel and the West Bank were both moved from Level 2 to Level 3, while Gaza remains at Level 4. The region’s travel advisory was updated in November to reflect travel restrictions for certain government employees who have not already left the area, and it was updated again on Jan. 3.

Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in early October, the U.S. State Department raised Lebanon ’s travel advisory level from a Level 3 to a Level 4 level due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges” between Israel and Hezbollah or other militant groups. In December, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut returned to normal staffing and presence, and on Jan. 29, the country was moved back to Level 3. Crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping and unexploded landmines are listed as the country’s primary risk factors. However, the country’s borders with Syria and with Israel, as well as refugee settlements within Lebanon, are specifically noted as Level 4 regions.

China became a Level 3 country in late 2020, with an update in December 2022 citing “the surge in COVID-19 cases, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and COVID-19-related restrictions” as the reason for the advisory. In June 2023, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was moved from the Level 3 to the Level 2 list, but travelers are still advised to be cautious in the area due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” Meanwhile, Macau remains at Level 3.

Following an attempted coup in August 2023, Niger was elevated to Level 4 in August and the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. In early January 2024, the overall risk level for the country was lowered back to Level 3. Despite the new classification, the State Department still asks non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members to depart the country.

In mid-December 2023 there was an explosion at Guinea’s main fuel depot which has since affected access to health care and basic goods and services. The country was subsequently designated a Level 3 nation after having previously been Level 2. Concerns about civil unrest, health, crime and fuel shortages impacting local infrastructure were listed as the primary risk factors contributing to the change.

Several Level 3 countries are among the worst countries for human trafficking, as designated by the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report . Level 3 countries on this list include Papua New Guinea, Guinea Bissau, China and Chad. There are also nine Level 4 countries designated as among the worst for human trafficking: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Syria, South Sudan and Venezuela.

Over 70 countries are currently at Level 2, meaning the State Department recommends travelers “exercise increased caution” when traveling to those destinations.

Botswana became the newest Level 2 country on Feb. 26 after having previously been Level 1, with crime noted as the primary risk factor.

France, which saw nationwide protests throughout 2023, has civil unrest and terrorism noted as risk factors for its Level 2 status, and Sweden’s Level 2 status is associated with risks of terrorism.

The Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas was updated in January to reflect water safety concerns. The advisory warns that “activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated” and notes that government personnel are “not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.” It also warns visitors to be mindful of sharks, weather and water conditions. The advisory also says that crime is a primary risk factor with gang-on-gang violence contributing to high homicide rates in some areas. Visitors are asked to “be vigilant” and to not physically resist robbery attempts.

Bangladesh 's Level 2 travel advisory was updated in October 2023 to add a note about the country’s general election , which took place Jan. 7, 2024. The advisory states “demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.” The U.S. has since claimed the country’s election was not free nor fair.

In November 2023, several Level 2 travel advisories were updated with new cautionary information. The advisory for Ghana was updated to reflect threats against LGBTQI+ travelers specifically, noting “anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric and violence have increased in recent years.” Meanwhile, the advisory for South Africa was updated in February to note that routes recommended by GPS may be unsafe with higher risk for crime.

Turkmenistan was moved off of the Level 2 list to become the newest addition to the Level 1 list on Jan. 22, meaning normal precautions are recommended but there are no risk factors causing travelers to practice increased caution.

The State Department asks travelers to pay attention to travel advisory levels and alerts , review country information pages for their destinations and read related country security reports before going abroad.

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Home » Blog » Important Information for Every Noncitizen Before Departing the United States

Important Information for Every Noncitizen Before Departing the United States

June 14, 2022 Travel Documents

In most cases, you’ll need two types of documents when you travel abroad. You’ll need documentation that authorizes you to enter another country. You’ll also need documents to re-enter the United States upon your return. The travel documentation for your return to the U.S. is the focus of this article. If you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national with a passport, there are a variety of noncitizen travel documents you may need depending your status.

Depending on your immigration status or if you have an application for an immigration benefit pending, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials may require different types of travel documents to lawfully enter at a port of entry. Generally, you should apply for these documents prior to your departure from the United States. In some case, you must have the travel authorization before departing.

Noncitizen Travel Documents Are Not a Guarantee of Reentry

Just because you hold a valid travel document, it is not an absolute guarantee of reentry to the United States. Even green card holders should be aware of this reentry process.

Generally, any person who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national is subject to immigration inspection each time they seek admission to the United States. Even if you are a permanent resident (green card holder), you are subject to review by an immigration official. If, during such review, an immigration official determines that you are inadmissible (even though you may have been admissible previously), they can deny admission.

Provided you have the proper, valid travel documentation, most noncitizens do not need worry about re-entering the United States. The inspection can become problematic, for example, when a noncitizen has a criminal history or immigration violations. If you have known issues, contact an immigration attorney to discuss your situation before departing the U.S.

Travel Document Types

USCIS issues four types of noncitizen travel documents: advance parole, reentry permits, refugee travel documents, and carrier documentation. The travel document you need may be specific to your immigration status and situation.

Advance Parole Document

Reentry permit, refugee travel document, carrier documentation.

Your ability to correctly prepare the application and submit the appropriate supporting documents is the most important factor for travel document processing times. CitizenPath is an affordable, online service that helps you prepare USCIS applications correctly. Immigration attorneys created the service. It even provides a guarantee that USCIS will approve your application. Get started >>

Permanent Residents

In general, both lawful permanent residents with 10-year green cards and conditional residents with 2-year green cards, may use their cards to re-enter the United States from temporary travel abroad that is less than one year. Provided it is valid and unexpired, permanent residents may use the green card to re-enter the country up until the day it expires.

Conditional residents may use an expired card to re-enter the U.S. but only if they also have a valid I-751 receipt notice. USCIS issues Form I-797C, Notice of Action (receipt notice) approximately 4 to 6 weeks after conditional residents file Form I-751 to remove conditions on residence. The I-751 receipt notice extends the validity of the card for an additional 18 months while USCIS processes the I-751 petition.

Extended Travel for Permanent Residents

In general, permanent residents should limit trips abroad to less than six months. That’s because USCIS presumes that your absences of six months or more disrupted the continuous residence requirement for naturalization. Disrupting the continuous residence requirement will force you to wait longer to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Lawful permanent residents or conditional residents who plan to travel outside the United States for more than one year, but less than two years, may apply for a reentry permit. Permanent residents should always maintain a U.S. domicile. In other words, you must maintain close ties to the United States and intend to return to the U.S. after your temporary travel abroad. If, during a reentry inspection, a CBP officer determines that your real home is outside the U.S. you may be referred to an immigration judge for removal proceedings.

RECOMMENDED: Benefits of a Reentry Permit for Permanent Residents

Permanent residents who have been outside the U.S. for more than one year with a reentry permit, or more than two years with a reentry permit, may be eligible in some cases for a returning resident visa (SB-1). If you are a permanent resident and find yourself unable to reenter the U.S. due to an extended absence outside of your control, contact an immigration attorney about your options.

Emergency Need for Green Card

Urgent travel needs often come at the worst times. If you have an emergency need to travel but your green card is expired or even lost, there are options. In both cases, you’ll need to file Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card) as soon as possible. You need the receipt notice that USCIS provides after they accept the application for processing.

If you have an expired or expiring card, current receipt notices (I-797C, Notice of Action) contain a clause that extends the validity of your card for one year from the expiration date. You may use the letter in combination with your expired card to reenter the U.S.

If your card is lost or stolen, you’ll need a different type of temporary proof of your permanent resident status. Once you have your receipt number, you’ll need to contact USCIS at 1-800- 375-5283 and schedule an appointment to request an I-551 stamp in your passport .

Lost Card Abroad

Permanent residents cannot replace a green card from outside the United States. If you’ve lost a green card abroad, obtain carrier documentation to board a transportation carrier bound for the U.S. Individuals with a lost reentry permit follow the same procedure. Use Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) to make this request.

Adjustment of Status Applicants

Individuals with a pending I-485 (application for a green card) are commonly referred to as adjustment of status applicants. Travel outside of the United States may have severe consequences if you are in the process of adjusting your status. Generally, adjustment of status applicants who depart the United States without the appropriate documentation may be inadmissible to the United States upon return. Even if you are admitted, USCIS may determine that you’ve abandoned your I-485 application and related fees. Use Form I-131, Application for Travel Document to request advance parole.

RECOMMENDED: Advance Parole for Adjustment of Status Applicants

Asylee & Refugees

Asylum applicants, asylees, refugees, and lawful permanent residents who obtained such status based on their asylum/refugee status are subject to special rules with regard to traveling outside the United States.

USCIS will presume that asylum applicants who leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole have abandoned their asylum application. Asylum is a complex process. Individuals with a pending asylum application should contact an immigration lawyer prior to applying for advance parole and/or departing the United States.

For any individual with a grant of asylum status, refugee status, or pending application generally should not travel back to their country of claimed persecution. Returning to the country of claimed persecution could invalidate their status in a variety of ways. Speak to an attorney first.

Temporary Travel with DACA or TPS Status

Individuals with a grant of Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may request advance parole for limited situations. Generally, USCIS will not approve advance parole for leisure purposes (i.e. vacation).

USCIS generally limits approvals to travel for the following purposes:

Humanitarian

Educational, other nonimmigrant statuses.

If you intend to return to the United States after travel abroad, it’s important to understand the scope and privileges provided by your visa. The government issues some visas for a single use. Others may have multi-entry privileges.

Special Warnings for Certain Noncitizen Travelers

Foreign nationals in the United States with an expired status (or never had documents at all) are generally “unlawfully present.” Accruing time with an unlawful presence may have significant, long-term consequences. You have likely accumulated unlawful presence if you entered the U.S. without inspection; overstayed a visa; or violated a nonimmigrant visa status. There are unlawful presence bars that may affect you:

10-Year Bar

Permanent bar, expediting noncitizen travel documents.

USCIS may expedite your request for a travel document on case-by-case basis. In other words, they will evaluate your specific situation to determine if it justifies jumping to the front of the line. This is generally limited to emergencies or situations that affect many people. Your failure to maintain a document or request a travel document early (when time was available) is not a valid reason. To expedite your request, you will need to contact USCIS will evidence of your urgent need that generally fits one of the following reasons:

• Severe financial loss to company or person
• Emergency situations
• Humanitarian reasons
• Nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States
• U.S. government interests (such as public safety or national security interests)
• Clear USCIS error

RECOMMENDED: How to Request Expedite Processing of a Travel Document

Don’t get stuck without the correct noncitizen travel documents. CitizenPath provides simple, affordable, step-by-step guidance through USCIS immigration applications. Individuals, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or mobile device to prepare immigration forms accurately, avoiding costly delays. CitizenPath allows users to try the service for free and provides a 100% money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve the application. We provide support for all noncitizen travel documents through the Application for Travel Document (Form I-131) , Green Card Renewal Application (Form I-90) , Citizenship Application (Form N-400) , and several other USCIS immigration forms .

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Related Posts

Advance Parole Travel with Adjustment of Status

If you have a pending Form I-485 (adjustment of status application), obtaining an advance parole travel document is essential before departing the United States for a trip.… Continue Reading →

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Advance parole for DACA makes it possible for certain individuals to travel outside the United States and return without losing DACA status.… Continue Reading →

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The Three Ways Non-U.S. Citizens Can Legally Live and Work in the United States

It would be a slight understatement to say that immigration is a hot topic in the United States these days. And yet, with a repeating election cycle, you can expect the topic—and the political rhetoric surrounding it—to somehow get even hotter.

Listen to this article:   Click here to play this audio clip

But like most legal concepts at the center of a national conversation, immigration is often oversimplified by politicians, pundits and the media. When someone from these groups wants to provide a catchy soundbite or write an irresistible headline, they often use the amorphous yet all-encompassing terms “immigration” or “citizenship” as a shortcut to describe more nuanced aspects of the U.S. immigration system.

To clear up any confusion about that system, we thought it was worthwhile to break down—briefly and objectively—the three main ways non-U.S. citizens can legally come to and stay in the United States: citizenship, lawful permanent residency and visas.

Citizenship

U.S. citizenship provides an individual with the most rights and benefits of any legal immigration option. A person can become a U.S. citizen at birth or after .

In order to become a citizen at birth, a person must have been born in the U.S. or one of its territories and be subject to U.S. jurisdiction, or be born to at least one parent who was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth.

After birth, a person can become a U.S. citizen in two ways. The first is through “derived” or “acquired” citizenship through his or her parents . This method is only for children under 18 years of age and often comes about when a non-U.S. citizen is adopted at an early age by parents who are U.S. citizens.

The other way for a person to become a U.S. citizen after birth is through naturalization , which typically takes about ten months .

There are a number of eligibility requirements that an individual must meet in order to apply for naturalization. This includes already having the status of a permanent resident (which we discuss below) for at least five years before applying, or three years if applying for naturalization as the spouse of a U.S. citizen . This also includes demonstrating proficiency with the English language and knowledge of U.S. history and government and taking an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

Lawful Permanent Residents

Non-U.S. citizens can permanently live and work in the U.S. by applying to be a lawful permanent resident and obtaining a Green Card. Lawful permanent residents are entitled to limited rights and benefits as compared to U.S. citizens.

There are broad categories of non-U.S. citizens who are eligible to apply for a Green Card, including:

• Relatives of S citizens and lawful permanent residents;
• People “ with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics,” “ members of the professions holding advanced degrees or who have exceptional ability,” or “ skilled workers, professionals, or other workers ”;
• Individuals who “have invested or are actively in the process of investing at least $1 million in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. which will create full-time positions for at least 10 qualifying employees”;
• People who were granted asylum status or admitted as a refugee at least one year before applying; and
• Individuals who were selected for a diversity visa (which we discuss below).

Different Green Cards have their own specific procedures to follow. However, there are some processes and procedures that apply generally. Once an application for a Green Card has been filed, it may take anywhere from a few months to about a year for the application to be granted.

The third primary way for non-U.S. citizens to lawfully live or work in the U.S. is through a visa. There are two kinds of U.S. visas: non-immigrant and immigrant .

Non-immigrant visas are for travel to the U.S. on a temporary basis. These visas cover people as varied as au pairs (visa category “J”); foreign nationals with “extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics” (category “O”); performing athletes, artists or entertainers (category “P”); and tourism, vacation or pleasure visitors (category “B-2”). While the amount of time a visa holder can legally stay in the U.S. will vary based on the type of visa, visa holders can apply to extend their stays online.

However, through the U.S. Visa Waiver Program , citizens of 38 countries including Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom need not obtain visas if they are visiting the U.S. for 90 days or less when traveling for business or pleasure. Generally speaking, citizens of Canada and Bermuda also do not need to obtain non-immigrant visas when traveling to the U.S.

Immigrant visas on the other hand, are the first step most non-U.S. citizens must take if they want to eventually live permanently in the United States. Most immigrants obtain visas through family-based or employment-based options.

For family-based visas, each year the U.S. makes 226,000 visas available for family-sponsored applicants. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may file immigrant visa petitions for certain family members such as spouses and children. But unlike U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents cannot file visa petitions for a parent or a sibling.

As for employment-based options, each year the U.S. makes approximately 140,000 visas available to qualified applicants. Included in this category are the well-known H1-B visas for “specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge” which we discussed in a previous article .

The U.S. also makes 55,000 diversity visas available annually to randomly selected individuals who are from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Because the U.S. restricts the total amount of family-sponsored and employment-based immigration visas from most countries to seven percent of the worldwide total , some applicants may have to wait years or even decades before their visa applications can be filed, evaluated and granted.

Once a non-U.S. citizen has received an immigrant visa, he or she can apply for a Green Card. But, again, because demand often outpaces supply, some visa holders may have to wait years or decades before they can apply for and receive a Green Card.

Setting the record straight

Punditry makes for interesting television and immigration talk makes for powerful political soundbites. None of this, however, changes the fact that the United States has an established legal framework in place for foreign individuals who wish to live in the country. Separating the law and nuance from the hype is critical to understanding immigration in our country.

 Of course, it’s not a perfect system but it’s also much less fluid than many would have you believe.  

Want to read more? Check out  these other articles related to immigration . 

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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US issues ‘do not travel’ advisory for popular tourist destination before summer

• Published: May. 20, 2024, 9:36 a.m.

Supporters attend the campaign launch of Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, in La Victoria, Venezuela, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) AP

• David Cifarelli | [email protected]
• The Associated Press

The United States Department of State is telling citizens to cross Venezuela off their summer travel lists.

People should not travel to the popular tourist destination because of “crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws,” the DOS said in a travel advisory issued Monday, May 13.

“Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure,” the advisory reads.

The DOS said violent crimes including homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking are common in Venezuela, and that there is a “high risk” that U.S. travelers could be wrongfully kidnapped. Colombian terrorist groups also operate on Venezuela’s border with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana.

In addition, political rallies often occur with little notice. In recent months, Venezuela has been plagued with demonstrations against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is seeking a third term in July .

Maduro’s presidency has been marked by a complex crisis that pushed millions of people into poverty and more than 7.7 million others to migrate, according to the Associated Press.

People can read the DOS’  information page  on Venezuela for more information on travel to the country.

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.

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State Department issues 'worldwide caution' for travelers, warns of anti-LGBTQ+ violence

The U.S. State Department issued a “ worldwide caution ” for Americans overseas Friday, warning about potential threats to LGBTQ+ travelers and other violence.

“The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the advisory said. The warning did not name any specific terrorist organizations or events.

The security alert also highlighted the general “potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.” The State Department previously issued a similar advisory in October in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

The warning advised Americans to stay aware of their surroundings “in locations frequented by tourists, including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ persons.” The State Department also advised travelers to sign up for its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which communicates updates and can help locate users in case of emergency.

"The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

"We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions," they added.

‘We’re here to stay’: Why drag is critical in the US and sometimes safer abroad

The advisory comes after the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security warned last week that foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters could target LGBTQ+ “events and venues” during Pride Month in June.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Up-to-date Information

Up-to-Date Info: To find the latest CDC information on this topic go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Nov. 5, 2021

• By National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Corporate Authors: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Description: Updated Nov. 5, 2021 U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants If you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or immigrant, visit International Travel: Information for U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants for requirements before arriving in the United States. If you are a non-U.S. citizen non-U.S. immigrant and not fully vaccinated, you will not be allowed to enter the United States. Only limited exceptions apply to the requirement to show proof of vaccination. More ▼ -->
• Content Notes: Before You Travel to the United States -- During Travel to the United States -- After Arrival in the United States.
• Subjects: [+] Air Travel Coronavirus Infections COVID-19 Vaccines Pandemics Travel Vaccination
• Document Type: Webpage
• Place as Subject: United States
• Collection(s): Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection
• Main Document Checksum: [+] urn:sha256:614a1f06692c75457330fd261bec1d75e3b900a63be34f335833a49861e05103
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Noncitizen voting becomes a centerpiece of 2024 GOP messaging

It has erupted into a leading election-year talking point for Republicans.

NEW YORK -- One political party is holding urgent news conferences and congressional hearings over the topic. The other says it’s a dangerous distraction meant to seed doubts before this year's presidential election .

In recent months, the specter of immigrants voting illegally in the U.S. has erupted into a leading election-year talking point for Republicans. They argue that legislation is necessary to protect the sanctity of the vote as the country faces unprecedented levels of illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Voting by people who are not U.S. citizens already is illegal in federal elections and there is no indication it’s happening anywhere in significant numbers. Yet Republican lawmakers at the federal and state levels are throwing their energy behind the issue, introducing legislation and fall ballot measures. The activity ensures the issue will remain at the forefront of voters’ minds in the months ahead.

Republicans in Congress are pushing a bill called the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Meanwhile, Republican legislatures in at least six states have placed noncitizen voting measures on the Nov. 5 ballot, while at least two more are debating whether to do so.

“American elections are for American citizens, and we intend to keep it that way,” House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin said during a hearing he hosted on the topic this past week.

Democrats on the committee lambasted their Republican colleagues for focusing on what they called a “nonissue,” arguing it was part of a strategy with former President Donald Trump to lay the groundwork for election challenges this fall.

“It appears the lesson Republicans learned from the fiasco that the former president caused in 2020 was not ‘Don’t steal an election’ — it was just ‘Start earlier,’” said New York Rep. Joe Morelle, the committee's top Democrat. “The coup starts here. This is where it begins.”

The concern that immigrants who are not eligible to vote are illegally casting ballots has prevailed on the right for years. But it gained renewed attention earlier this year when Trump began suggesting without evidence that Democrats were encouraging illegal migration to the U.S. so they could register the newcomers to vote.

Republicans who have been vocal about voting by those who are not citizens have demurred when asked for evidence that it's a problem. Last week, during a news conference on his federal legislation to require proof of citizenship during voter registration, House Speaker Mike Johnson couldn’t provide examples of the crime happening.

“The answer is that it’s unanswerable,” the Louisiana Republican said in response to a question about whether such people were illegally voting. “We all know, intuitively, that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections, but it’s not been something that is easily provable.”

Election administration experts say it’s not only provable, but it's been demonstrated that the number of noncitizens voting in federal elections is infinitesimal.

To be clear, there have been cases over the years of noncitizens illegally registering and even casting ballots. But states have mechanisms to catch that. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently found 137 suspected noncitizens on the state’s rolls — out of roughly 8 million voters — and is taking action to confirm and remove them, he announced this past week.

In 2022, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, conducted an audit of his state’s voter rolls specifically looking for noncitizens. His office found that 1,634 had attempted to register to vote over a period of 25 years, but election officials had caught all the applications and none had been able to register.

In North Carolina in 2016, an audit of elections found that 41 legal immigrants who had not yet become citizens cast ballots, out of 4.8 million total ballots cast. The votes didn't make a difference in any of the state's elections.

Voters must confirm under penalty of perjury that they are citizens when they register to vote. If they lie, they can face fines, imprisonment or deportation, said David Becker, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research.

On top of that, anyone registering provides their Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID, Becker said. That means they already have shown the government proof of citizenship to receive those documents, or if they are a noncitizen with a state ID or Social Security number, they have been clearly classified that way in the state’s records.

“What they’re asking for is additional proof,” Becker said of Republicans pushing Johnson’s bill. “Why should people have to go to multiple government agencies and have them ask, ’Show us your papers,' when they’ve already shown them?”

Democrats fear adding more ID requirements could disenfranchise eligible voters who don't have their birth certificates or Social Security cards on hand. Republicans counter that the extra step could provide another layer of security and boost voter confidence in an imperfect system in which noncitizen voters have slipped through in the past.

The national focus on noncitizen voting also has brought attention to a related, but different phenomenon: how a small number of local jurisdictions, among them San Francisco and the District of Columbia, have begun allowing immigrants who aren’t citizens to vote in some local contests, such as for school board and city council.

The number of noncitizen voters casting ballots in the towns and cities where they are allowed to do so has been minimal so far. In Winooski, Vermont, where 1,345 people cast ballots in a recent local election, just 11 were not citizens, the clerk told The Associated Press. Still, the gradually growing phenomenon has prompted some state lawmakers to introduce ballot measures that seek to stop cities from trying this in the future.

In South Carolina, voters in November will decide on a constitutional amendment that supporters say will shut the door on any noncitizens voting. The state's constitution currently says every citizen aged 18 and over who qualifies to vote can. The amendment changes the phrasing to say “only citizens.”

Republican state Sen. Chip Campsen called it a safeguard to prevent future problems. California has similar wording to South Carolina’s current provision, and Campsen cited a California Supreme Court decision that ruled “every” didn’t prevent noncitizens from voting.

Democratic state Sen. Darrell Jackson asked Campsen during the debate last month, “Do we have that problem here in South Carolina?”

“You don’t have the problem until the problem arises,” Campsen replied.

On Friday, legislative Republicans in Missouri passed a ballot measure for November that would ban both noncitizen voting and ranked-choice voting.

“I know that scary hypotheticals have been thrown out there: ‘Well, what about St. Louis? What about Kansas City?’” said Democratic state Sen. Lauren Arthur of Kansas City. “It is not a real threat because this is already outlawed. It’s already illegal in Missouri.”

Asked by a Democrat on Thursday about instances of noncitizens voting in Missouri, Republican Rep. Alex Riley said he didn't have “specific data or a scenario that it has happened," but wanted to “address the concern that it could happen in the future.”

In Wisconsin, an important presidential swing state where the Republican-controlled Legislature also put a noncitizen voting measure on the ballot this fall, Democratic state Rep. Lee Snodgrass said during a hearing earlier this week that she couldn't understand why someone who is not a legal citizen would vote.

"I’m trying to wrap my brain around what people think the motivation would be for a noncitizen to go through an enormous amount of hassle to actively commit a felony to vote in an election that’s going to end up putting them in prison or be deported,” she said.

Associated Press writers Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri, Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Dual Nationality

The Department of State occasionally receives requests for certificates of non-citizen national status pursuant to Section 341(b)of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 USC 1452(b).

As defined by the INA, all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals but only a relatively small number of persons acquire U.S. nationality without becoming U.S. citizens. Section 101(a)(21) of the INA defines the term “national” as “a person owing permanent allegiance to a state.” Section 101(a)(22) of the INA provides that the term “national of the United States” includes all U.S. citizens as well as persons who, though not citizens of the United States, owe permanent allegiance to the United States (non-citizen nationals).

Section 308 of the INA confers U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship, on persons born in "an outlying possession of the United States" or born of a parent or parents who are non-citizen nationals who meet certain physical presence or residence requirements. The term “outlying possessions of the United States” is defined in Section 101(a)(29) of the INA as American Samoa and Swains Island. No other statutes define any other territories or any of the states as outlying possessions.

In addition to Section 308 of the INA, Section 302 of Public Law 94 - 241 provides for certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, who became United States citizens by virtue of Article III of the Covenant, to opt for non-citizen national status. (See requirements of Section 302).

As the Department has received few requests, there is no justification for the creation of a non-citizen national certificate. Designing a separate document that includes anti-fraud mechanisms was seen as an inefficient expenditure of resources. Therefore, the Department determined that those who would be eligible to apply for such a certificate may instead apply for a United States passport that would delineate and certify their status as a national but not a citizen of the United States.

If a person believes he or she is eligible under the law as a non-citizen national of the United States and the person complies with the provisions of section 341(b) of the INA, 8 USC 1452(b), he/she may apply for a passport at any Passport Agency or acceptance facility in the United States. When applying, applicants must execute a Form DS-11 and show documentary proof of their non-citizen national status as well as their identity.

Pertinent Sections of Law on Non-Citizen Nationality

Section 341 of the immigration and nationality act:.

(b) A person who claims to be a national, but not a citizen, of the United States may apply to the Secretary of State for a certificate of non-citizen national status. Upon - (1) proof to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that the applicant is a national, but not a citizen, of the United States; and, (2) in the case of a non-citizen national born outside of the United States or its outlying possessions, taking and subscribing, before an immigration officer within the United States or its outlying possessions, to the oath of allegiance required of an applicant for naturalization.

Section 101(a)(21) of the Immigration and Nationality Act:

The term “national” means a person owing permanent allegiance to a state.

Section 101(a)(29) of the Immigration and Nationality Act:

The term "outlying possessions of the United States" means American Samoa and Swains Island.

Section 101(a)(36) of the Immigration and Nationality Act:

The term "State" includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.

Section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act:

Unless otherwise provided in section 301 of this title, the following shall be nationals, but not citizens of the United States at birth:

(1) A person born in an outlying possession of the United States on or after the date of formal acquisition of such possession;

(2) A person born outside the United States and is outlying possessions of parents both of whom are nationals, but not citizens, of the United States, and have had a residence in the United States, or one of its outlying possessions prior to the birth of such person;

(3) A person of unknown parentage found in an outlying possession of the United States while under the age of five years, until shown, prior to attaining the age of twenty-one years, not to have been born in such outlying possessions; and

(4) A person born outside the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a national, but not a citizen, of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than seven years in any continuous period of ten years -

(A) during which the national parent was not outside the United States or its outlying possessions for a continuous period of more than one year, and

(B) at least five years of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years.

The proviso of section (301(g) shall apply to the national parent under this paragraph in the same manner as it applies to the citizen parent under that section.

Section 302 of Public Law 94 - 241:

Any person who becomes a citizen of the United States solely by virtue of the provisions in Section 301 [applying to those born in or residing in the Northern Mariana Islands] may within six months after the effective date of that Section or within six months after reaching the age of 18 years, whichever date is later, become a national but not a citizen of the United States by making a declaration under oath before any court established by the Constitution or laws of the United States or any other court of record in the Commonwealth in the form as follows " I _____ being duly sworn, hereby declare my intention to be a national but not a citizen of the United States."

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'10 to 27%' of Noncitizens in US Are Illegally Registered To Vote?

"they are trying to squeeze blood from a turnip," one expert told snopes of the methods used to reach this conclusion., alex kasprak, published may 26, 2024.

About this rating

• No "new study" concluded that 10 to 27% of noncitizens in the U.S. are registered to vote. Instead, one independent researcher, James Agresti, published a re-interpretation of a widely discredited 2014 paper to make untenable conclusions about non-citizen voting behavior in 2024. 
• The paper on which this claim is based produced estimates of noncitizen voter participation that even its author, Jesse Richman, no longer agrees with. The scientists responsible for collecting the data Richman used say it was a wildly inappropriate use of their data. 
• Despite these new developments, Agresti still relies on outdated estimates from that paper that are widely considered to be useless. Nonetheless, Agresti told Snopes he stands by his work. 

In mid-May 2024, several conservative influencers began posting a new voter fraud talking point on social media platforms: "A new study shows that between 10% and 27% of noncitizens are illegally registered to vote."

The assertion was amplified by the conservative Heartland Institute  and reshared by many conservative news  and  conspiracy theory websites. For example, Not The Bee, the right-leaning news arm of the satirical website Babylon Bee, posted a story based on these claims with the headline "up to a third of illegal immigrants are registered to vote, according to new study."

That headline garnered a repost from tech billonaire Elon Musk, who asked if the claim was accurate:

This claim was not accurate. It was merely the latest in a long line of mathematically misguided, headline-generating assertions originating from an organization named Just Facts, which describes itself as "a research and educational institute dedicated to publishing facts about public policies and teaching research skills." President and Co-Founder James Agresti authors most of the content on the site.

Since 2017, Agresti has repurposed the findings of a controversial 2014 study about noncitizen voting, conducted by Old Dominion University political scientist Jesse Richman , to argue the plausibility that noncitizens illegally participate in U.S. elections and that noncitizen votes have swayed past elections in favor of Democrats. Agresti uses Richman's research as the primary academic foundation for his claims.

That 2014 study used as its primary dataset a survey on voter behavior carried out every two years by polling firms on behalf of a Harvard University-led initiative now known as the Cooperative Election Survey (CES). The CES asks respondents "more than 100 questions regarding electoral participation, issue preferences, and candidate choices."   

In 2017, over 200 political scientists and statisticians signed an open letter rejecting the reliability of Richman's findings. "The scholarly political science community has generally rejected the findings in the Richman et al. study and we believe it should not be cited or used in any debate over fraudulent voting," they wrote. In 2018, Harvard's Stephen Ansolabehere , one of the principle scientists behind CES, testified  in a trial challenging the constitutionality of a Kansas voter-registration law that Richman's estimates of noncitizen voter participation were "not statistically different than zero."

In this piece, Snopes explains why Agresti's claim that "between 10% and 27% of noncitizens are illegally registered to vote" is unsupported by the evidence he cites, and we place this new claim in the context of the long-standing, misinformation-generating debate from which it originated.

For this story, Snopes spoke by email with Agresti, Richman, and Brian Schaffner — a Tufts political scientist and another primary investigator on CES. Schaffner rejects Richman and Agresti's use of the CES to study noncitizens entirely, and Richman disputes some of Agresti's claims. Agresti told Snopes he stands by his work.

A Decade of Dubious Deductions

Through online surveys, CES generates a dataset of tens of thousands of voting-age Americans every two years. This large dataset is then adjusted to match a random sample of voting-age Americans based on census data. 

In his 2014 paper , Richman studied a small subset of individuals from CES surveys for the 2008 and 2010 elections — the people who said in a voluntary survey regarding U.S. voting behavior that they were noncitizens. In 2008, from a pool of 32,800 CES respondents, 339 people indicated that they were noncitizens. Out of 55,400 respondents in 2010, 489 people indicated they were noncitizens.

Richman's conclusion that about a quarter of noncitizens are registered to vote stemmed, in 2014, principally from these two pools of self-described noncitizens. As described in the 2014 paper, his best "adjusted estimate" came from those pools of people and from a database, Catalyst, that CES uses to match respondents to voter records. The paper said in part (emphasis ours):

Our best guess at the true percentage of noncitizens registered uses the 94 (weighted) noncitizens from [the 2008 CES] for whom Catalyst obtained a match to commercial and/or voter databases to estimate the portion of noncitizens who either claim to be registered when they are not (35%) or claim not to be registered when they are (18%). We then use these numbers to extrapolate for the entire sample of noncitizens in 2008 and 2010. Because most noncitizens who said they were registered were in fact registered, and quite a few who said they were not were actually registered, the adjusted estimate is the highest of the three estimates, indicating that roughly one quarter of noncitizens were likely registered to vote.

Much of the debate surrounding the 2014 Richman study, which Snopes covered in detail in 2017 , focused on the fact that this sample size was so small relative to the larger pool that it could be accounted for, in large part, by actual citizens who did indeed register to vote but hit the wrong box on the citizenship question. A 2015 study by Shaffner and other CES colleagues published in 2015 raised this issue.

Schaffner and his colleagues identified a significant number of citizens who did incorrectly state they were noncitizens in those CES surveys, as he told Snopes in 2017:

In 2012, we re-interviewed 19,000 people who had been respondents for the 2010 [CES]. We asked them the same question about citizenship status as we had asked them in 2010. Of these 19,000, 121 had claimed to be noncitizens in 2010. In 2012, 36 of the 121 had changed their response to "citizen." Additionally, 20 people who had clicked on the "citizen" option in 2010 changed to "non-citizen" in 2012. Thus, it is clearly the case that a small share of respondents were misclicking on response options to that question in at least one of the two surveys (about 0.3%).

Since 2016, when Agresti's claims about massive noncitizen election participation first went viral, the author says he has used an improved version of the method employed by the Richman study to calculate noncitizen voter registration rates in recent years.

In his most recent post , Agresti argued that "the latest available data and an enhanced version of a stress-tested methodology from a scholarly journal," — i.e., the Richman study — "has found that about 10% to 27% of non-citizen adults in the U.S. are now illegally registered to vote:

The U.S. Census recorded more than 19 million adult noncitizens living in the U.S. during 2022. Given their voter registration rates, this means that about two million to five million of them are illegally registered to vote. These figures are potentially high enough to overturn the will of the American people in major elections, including congressional seats and the presidency.

While this latest version of the "enhanced" Just Facts method does factor in CES data from 2022, it still fundamentally relies on the analyses of datasets from 2008 and 2010. Agresti's use of this old data is crucial, because Richman himself has largely moved on from the more sensational claims made in that study.

As an expert witness in several voter fraud-related cases since 2018, Richman has stated under oath that he believes the best estimate of the registration rate by noncitizens in the U.S. is below 1 percent.

An Expert Report Complicates Agresti's Claim

Richman's 2014 paper re-emerged as a topic of discussion in March 2024 — before Agresti made his most recent claim — thanks to documents produced in a 2023 case challenging the constitutionality of recently enacted voter ID laws in Arizona. As an expert witness, Richman was given access to Arizona Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) records and voter rolls. He conducted two studies to identify noncitizens who registered to vote in Arizona using that data and an additional study with more recent CES data.

Those reports were initially filed under seal, but they were unearthed thanks to a public records request by Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post. In a March 2024 story , Kessler described what Richman found (emphasis ours):

Richman said he found [using Arizona DMV and voter records] that 1,934 voters ( 0.43 percent of Arizona voting-age noncitizens ) had records that indicated they were not citizens at the time they registered or after registering to vote. … Richman also examined 2022 data from the Cooperative Election Study, which now has a more precise way of asking a question about a voter's citizenship and a larger sample size than the surveys he studied for his 2014 paper. He found that just under 1 percent of noncitizens indicated they had registered to vote — again, much smaller than his previous findings.

Via email, Snopes asked Richman if he felt as though these new analyses validated his critics' concerns about his earlier work. In response, Richman argued that the analyses lent some credence to the criticism, but also ameliorated other specific concerns with the work:

In terms of credence, the fact that the estimates are lower supports the possibility that there was some bias generated by response error on the citizenship status question as the critics alleged. … [But] there is no evidence in the recent [CES] data of the kind of inconsistent responses to the citizenship question that critics hypothesized, so there isn't direct evidence for the critics' main claim [of response error].

There may have been no "direct evidence" for error on the citizenship question in the 2022 CES dataset, as Richman argues, but it would be misleading to suggest this silenced critics about the possibility of response error in earlier CES datasets, on other questions within that dataset, or with clerical errors in the datasets against which they were validated. Agresti, in an email to Snopes, falsely claimed that Richman's   expert report "completely debunked" the notion of incorrect answers to the citizenship question.

Factually, there is evidence of citizens incorrectly stating they were noncitizens in those earlier CES datasets. And those datasets are the ones that provided the estimates with much higher figures that Agresti continues to cite. Agresti dismissed Richman's new numbers as merely "lowball estimates" that unfairly undercount noncitizens. Even Richman told Snopes such a conclusion is in error:

I think the 10 percent figure has a foundation in my work, though it needs to be caveated more clearly to indicate the risks of being biased upwards, and I think it is absolutely inappropriate as a lower bound. The appropriate lower bound should be based upon individuals with validated registration status who said they were registered (i.e. less than one percent in 2022). I don't think the 27 percent figure is reasonable, partly because of changes in the methodology of the CES, and partly because I don't fully understand how it was calculated.

Agresti, in an email to Snopes, argued that Richman was wrong, in part because "Richman used and defended the same methodology in 2016 and 2017." The inexorable forward march of time, such as it is, often produces new information that challenges previous work. Thanks to new data and enhanced methodologies, Richman does not agree with the high-end conclusions he produced a decade ago, and Agresti continues to rely on them in spite of that fact.

'Squeezing Blood from a Turnip'

It might be easy to get lost in the minutiae of Richman's work and Agresti's apparent misuse of it. A much more simple rebuttal to the claim that up to 27% of the noncitizen voting population is registered to vote comes from the fact that the CES survey underlying the claim is fundamentally unsuited to answer any question about noncitizens. Schaffner told Snopes:

The CES … is designed to sample American adults. Once the weights are applied, it is therefore a representative sample of American adults on a wide variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and political variables. It is not designed to be a sample of noncitizen adults and therefore it is not fit for the purpose of studying that subset of respondents.

Agresti, in a Just Facts post and in discussion with Snopes, employed a rhetorical sleight of hand to justify his use of the purported noncitizen data pool in CES in spite of this criticism. In essence, Agresti argues that because the CES itself used modeling to make its sample representative, he, too, can weight his noncitizen data pool — in his case to match the demographics of the noncitizen population.

"The data used for the 2014 Electoral Studies paper and the 2017 Just Facts study were both weighted to make the results nationally representative of the non-citizen population," Agresti explained to Snopes in an email.

That's not how any of this works, according to Schaffner. There are some things you simply cannot model away. One situation in which such modeling fails is when the pool of survey respondents you draw your study group from was collected in such a way that would exclude or undercount the very group you are studying, something known as a "noncoverage bias."

"No amount of adjustment or modeling like what Agresti describes is going to actually fix the issue that the CES is never intended to include a representative sample of noncitizens," Schaffner told Snopes. "Many or even most noncitizens are not going to be eager to sign up to take a survey that requires them to provide identifying information," he argued.

"There are much better ways to analyze whether noncitizens register to vote," Schaffner told Snopes. These methods, some of which Richman used in his recent expert reports, involve looking voter rolls and other state records to identify any individuals who appear to be noncitizens. Studies like these, including the Richman expert reports, "overwhelmingly resulted in finding very few noncitizens registered to vote," Schaffner told Snopes.

"The fact that people are still trying to use the CES to do a study like this reflects that they don't like the result one gets from using a much more valid approach and therefore they are trying to squeeze blood from a turnip instead," Schaffner argued.

The Bottom Line

The claim that 10 to 23% of noncitizens in America are registered to vote is not rooted in an academic, peer-reviewed study. It is, instead, based on one person's interpretation of a controversial, decade-old paper that the political science field has since overwhelmingly rejected.

Because no "new study" has come to this conclusion, because the "groundbreaking study" from 2014 on which the claim is based has been widely rejected, and because the author of that (discredited) study rejects its present use, we rate the claim as "False."

Ansolabehere, Stephen, et al. "The Perils of Cherry Picking Low Frequency Events in Large Sample Surveys." Electoral Studies, vol. 40, Dec. 2015, pp. 409–10. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2015.07.002.

Cooperative Election Study. https://cces.gov.harvard.edu/home. Accessed 23 May 2024.

Just Facts - About Us. 25 Nov. 2023, https://www.justfacts.com/aboutus.asp.

Just Facts - Immigration. 23 May 2024, https://www.justfacts.com/immigration#electoral.

Kessler, Glenn. "Analysis | The Truth about Noncitizen Voting in Federal Elections." Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/06/truth-about-noncitizen-voting-federal-elections/.

Mueller, Zachary. "Fish v. Kobach Trial - Day 6 ⋆ Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights." Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, 14 Mar. 2018, https://irehr.org/2018/03/14/fish-v-kobach-trial-day-6/.

Office of Public Affairs | Court Finds That Arizona Voter Registration Provisions Violate Federal Law | United States Department of Justice. 1 Mar. 2024, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/court-finds-arizona-voter-registration-provisions-violate-federal-law.

"Peter Schweizer: Border Crisis Could Increase Number of Illegal Ballots Cast in 2024 — up to 2.7M." Breitbart, 15 May 2024, https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/05/15/peter-schweizer-biden-border-crisis-could-increase-illegal-ballots-cast-in-2024-up-to-2-7-million/.

"Quantifying Illegal Votes Cast by noncitizens in the Battleground States of the 2020 Presidential Election." Just Facts, 8 Nov. 2020, https://www.justfactsdaily.com/quantifying-illegal-votes-cast-by-noncitizens-in-the-battleground-states-of-the-2020-presidential-election.

Richman, Jesse T., et al. "Do noncitizens Vote in U.S. Elections?" Electoral Studies, vol. 36, Dec. 2014, pp. 149–57. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2014.09.001.

"Study: 10% to 27% of noncitizens Are Illegally Registered to Vote." The Heartland Institute, 14 May 2024, https://heartland.org/opinion/study-10-to-27-of-noncitizens-are-illegally-registered-to-vote/.

Study Finds Up to a Third of All noncitizens in the United States Are Illegally Registered to Vote | The Ohio Star. 15 May 2024, https://theohiostar.com/news/study-finds-up-to-a-third-of-all-noncitizens-in-the-united-states-are-illegally-registered-to-vote/ohstarstaff/2024/05/15/.

"Study: 'noncitizens' Are Registered to Vote, Could Decide next President | WND | by WND Staff." WND, 15 May 2024, https://www.wnd.com/2024/05/study-noncitizens-registered-vote-decide-next-president/.

"Substantial Numbers of noncitizens Vote Illegally in U.S. Elections." Just Facts, 15 Dec. 2016, https://www.justfactsdaily.com/substantial-numbers-of-noncitizens-vote-illegally-in-u-s-elections.

Tesler, Michael. "Methodological Challenges Affect Study of noncitizens' Voting." Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2021. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/10/27/methodological-challenges-affect-study-of-noncitizens-voting/.

Up to a Quarter of Illegal Immigrants Are Registered to Vote, According to New Study: "Potentially High Enough to Overturn the Will of the American People." https://notthebee.com/article/up-to-a-third-of-all-illegal-immigrants-in-the-us-are-registered-to-vote-just-in-case-you-wanted-to-know-how-2024-is-going-to-go. Accessed 23 May 2024.  

By Alex Kasprak

Alex Kasprak is an investigative journalist and science writer reporting on scientific misinformation, online fraud, and financial crime.

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Do I Need a Passport to Travel to Hawaii?

Are you planning a trip to hawaii but aren’t sure about hawaii passport requirements scroll to find out the truth about whether or not you need a passport to travel to hawaii so you can plan your perfect vacation..

Hawaii is like a tropical dream come true. With its beautiful beaches, lush mountains, and unique culture, it’s no wonder people from all over the world want to visit.

But when planning a trip to this paradise, many travelers have one big question: “Do I need a passport to visit Hawaii?”

It’s a common concern, especially since Hawaii is located so far from the mainland U.S. in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the answer to this question and help you understand what you need to pack in your travel documents bag, so you can enjoy your Hawaiian vacation without any worries.

Why should you take my advice? I’ve visited Hawaii more than 40 times and bring a depth of firsthand Hawaii expertise unmatched in the travel sphere.

Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Hawaii itineraries complete with daily schedules, fun activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.

Hawaii: a brief overview.

Hawaii, often called the “Aloha State,” is special. It’s the 50th state that joined the USA, but it’s different from all the other states because of its location.

Imagine a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by endless blue water. That’s Hawaii!

Even though it feels like a world away because it’s located about 2,400 miles from the mainland of the United States, it’s still very much a part of the country.

So, when thinking about its unique spot on the map, many wonder about the travel rules to get there.

Let’s dive into the question: Do you need a passport to hop on a plane and land on these beautiful Hawaiian islands?

For U.S. Citizens: Do You Need a Passport for Hawaii?

Great news! If you’re a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a passport to visit Hawaii.

Why? Because Hawaii is one of the 50 states of the USA. It’s like going from California to New York or from Texas to Florida.

However, when you’re flying, you still need to prove who you are. This means you’ll need a valid photo ID, like a driver’s license.

Starting May 7, 2025, your ID must be REAL ID-compliant .

What’s that? It’s a type of ID with extra security features. If your ID has a star on the top right corner, you’re all set! Find out if you have a REAL ID .

But, just a heads up, rules can change. While there’s no talk right now of changing the ID requirements for Hawaii, it’s always a good idea to double-check before you pack your bags. Safe travels and enjoy the Aloha spirit!

For Non-U.S. Citizens: Passport and Visa Info for Hawaii

Alright, for all our international friends dreaming of Hawaii’s beaches, here’s what you need to know!

If you’re not from the USA, you’ll definitely need a passport to enter Hawaii . But wait, there’s more. Depending on where you’re from, you might also need a visa.

Some good news: there’s a Visa Waiver Program !

This allows folks from certain countries to visit the USA (yes, including Hawaii) without a visa for up to 90 days.

So, if you’re lucky enough to be from one of these countries, just your passport and an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) are needed. Easy, right?

But if your country isn’t on the Visa Waiver list, don’t worry. You can still come to Hawaii! You’ll just need to apply for a tourist visa.

This involves filling out some paperwork, attending an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and waiting for approval.

So, gather your documents, and get ready for sun, sand, and the warm Hawaiian welcome!

Special Cases: Cruises to Hawaii

So, you’re thinking about arriving in Hawaii on a big, fancy cruise ship ? That sounds like fun! But do you need a passport for that? Well, it depends.

If your cruise starts and ends at the same U.S. port, it’s what they call a “closed-loop” cruise. For these trips, U.S. citizens don’t necessarily need a passport.

A birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license, often work just fine.

But, it’s a good idea to check with your cruise line because some might have different rules.

Now, if your cruise starts or ends in a different country, things change a bit. For these journeys, you’ll most likely need a passport.

It helps make sure you can get on and off the ship without any problems, especially if you’re visiting other countries along the way.

In short, while Hawaii is all about relaxing, you’ll want to make sure your travel documents are in order before you set sail. It’s always best to be prepared, so your vacation goes off without a hitch!

Benefits of Carrying a Passport

Alright, so let’s say you’re an American traveling to Hawaii, and technically, you don’t need a passport. But guess what? Carrying one can still be a smart move! Here’s why:

Universal Recognition

A passport is like a golden ticket. It’s recognized everywhere! No matter where you go, people know what a passport is, and they trust it as a form of ID.

Backup Plan

We all hope our vacations go perfectly, but sometimes, things happen. Let’s say you lose your driver’s license while enjoying the Hawaiian beaches.

If you have your passport, you’ve got a backup ID! It’s like having an extra umbrella just in case it rains.

Ready for Unexpected Adventures

Maybe after Hawaii, you decide to make a last-minute trip to another country nearby, like Japan or Australia. With a passport in hand, you’re all set to hop on a plane!

In short, even if you don’t need a passport for Hawaii, having one can be super handy. Think of it as packing an extra swimsuit – better to have it and not need it than wish you had it!

Passport Requirements for Visiting Hawaii FAQs

Do u.s. citizens need a passport to visit hawaii.

No, U.S. citizens do not need a passport to visit Hawaii. Hawaii is the 50th state of the U.S., so travel there is considered domestic.

I’m not a U.S. citizen. Do I need a passport to travel to Hawaii?

Yes, non-U.S. citizens will need a passport to enter Hawaii. Depending on your country of origin, you might also need a visa.

What is the Visa Waiver Program, and how does it relate to Hawaii travel?

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens from certain countries to travel to the U.S., including Hawaii, for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa.

I’m going on a cruise that stops in Hawaii. Do I need a passport?

If your cruise starts and ends at the same U.S. port (closed-loop cruise), U.S. citizens can use other forms of ID, but a passport is recommended. Non-U.S. citizens will usually need a passport and potentially a visa.

Even if it’s not required, are there benefits to carrying a passport when traveling to Hawaii?

Yes, a passport is a universally recognized form of identification, and having it can be useful, especially if other forms of ID are lost or if you decide to travel internationally after visiting Hawaii.

With the introduction of the REAL ID Act, will I need a passport for domestic flights to places like Hawaii?

No, but by a certain date, U.S. citizens will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID for domestic air travel. A passport can serve as an alternative to a REAL ID to board domestic flights.

What kind of ID to underage travelers need if they are a U.S. citizen?

For domestic air travel within the United States, including flights to Hawaii:

• Children under 18 traveling with an adult usually do not need to show ID when traveling with a companion within the U.S. However, TSA may ask for some form of identification to verify a child’s age. It’s advisable to carry a copy of the child’s birth certificate or another proof of age.
• If the child is traveling alone, the airline may have specific requirements, such as proof of age or a letter of consent from the parents. It’s essential to check with the airline in advance.

Will my NEXUS card work instead of a passport if I’m visiting Hawaii from Canada?

No. While the NEXUS card is valid for entry into the U.S. from Canada at land crossings and sea ports-of-entry, it is not valid for air travel to the U.S. You will need a valid passport to fly to Hawaii from Canada.

If eligible, Canadian citizens can travel under the Visa Waiver Program, but they still need an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval.

Can I use a passport card instead of a passport for my trip to Hawaii?

Yes, U.S. citizens can use a passport card for domestic air travel, including flights to Hawaii. However, remember that a passport card is limited to land and sea travel for international entries, so it cannot be used for international air travel .

If you are a U.S. citizen flying domestically to Hawaii, a passport card is acceptable.

Hawaii Passport Requirements Wrap Up

Alright, let’s wrap it up! If you’re an American, you don’t need a passport to visit Hawaii—it’s one of our 50 states!

But if you’re from another country, you’ll need that passport and maybe a visa too. Remember, travel rules can change, so always double-check before you pack your bags.

Hawaii is a paradise worth exploring, so plan ahead and make sure your trip is as smooth as those sandy beaches. Happy travels!

Looking for more Hawaii travel resources? Check out my top planning tips for Oahu , Maui , Kauai , and the Big Island !

The post Do I Need a Passport to Travel to Hawaii? appeared first on Hawaii Travel Spot .

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• Stats and Summaries
• CBP Enforcement Statistics

Criminal Noncitizen Statistics

The following is a summary of U.S. Border Patrol enforcement actions related to arrests of criminal noncitizens for Fiscal Years 2017 - 2024.

Records checks of available law enforcement databases following the apprehension of an individual may reveal a history of criminal conviction(s). That conviction information is recorded in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection database, from which the data below is derived.

Arrests of Individuals with Criminal Convictions

The term “criminal noncitizens” refers to individuals who have been convicted of one or more crimes, whether in the United States or abroad, prior to interdiction by the U.S. Border Patrol; it does not include convictions for conduct that is not deemed criminal by the United States. Arrests of criminal noncitizens are a subset of total apprehensions by U.S. Border Patrol.

Fiscal Year 2024 runs October 1, 2023- September 30, 2024.

Total Criminal Convictions by Type

This table organizes nationwide convictions of criminal noncitizens by type of criminal conduct. Because some criminal noncitizens may be convicted of multiple criminal offenses, total convictions listed below exceed the total arrests noted in the table above.

The FY total displays the total CES apprehensions but does not equal the sum of data by category because the same apprehension can have multiple NCIC Charges that are included in multiple categories.

1 “Other” includes any conviction not included in the categories above.

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House Passes Measure to Repeal D.C. Noncitizen Voting Law

Fifty-two Democrats joined Republicans in favor of the legislation, which has little chance of enactment but offered the G.O.P. a chance to amplify Donald Trump’s false claims of widespread illegal voting by noncitizens.

By Robert Jimison

Reporting from the Capitol

The House passed legislation on Thursday that would undo a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, part of a broader bid by Republicans to amplify false claims by former President Donald J. Trump of widespread illegal voting by immigrants, a rare occurrence that is already outlawed in federal elections.

The bill has virtually no chance of being taken up in the Democratic-led Senate or making it to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. But Republicans have used it, and other legislation aiming to crack down on voting by noncitizens, to stoke distrust in the country’s election laws and infrastructure ahead of the general election in November , a key pillar of Mr. Trump’s strategy to preemptively accuse Democrats of cheating him out of the presidency.

In the face of ample evidence to the contrary, the former president has long claimed falsely that federal elections are susceptible to widespread voter fraud and illegal voting by undocumented immigrants, who have skewed the outcomes in favor of Democrats — a charge that congressional Republicans have echoed.

The nation’s capital is one of more than a dozen municipalities in the country — most of them in California, Maryland and Vermont — that allow noncitizen residents to cast ballots in local contests, though voters eligible under the local laws rarely do so, even when they are allowed .

The vote was 262 to 143 to roll back the District’s voting law so that noncitizens would be barred from participating, with 52 Democrats and all Republicans supporting it.

On Thursday, Republicans said that the Washington, D.C. law was a gateway to a more sinister effort underway throughout the country to enfranchise people who should not be allowed to vote.

“This is a dangerous and bad precedent, and an un-American attempt at gaining power. And it needs to be stopped here and it needs to be stopped now. We have to stand up,” Representative Jeff Van Drew, Republican of New Jersey, said.

He and other Republicans said they had been admonished for warning of the possibility that noncitizens could soon gain voting rights, and held up the D.C. law as proof that the fear was legitimate.

“Here we are today. D.C., our nation’s own capitol, allowing illegal immigrants to vote in illegal elections. Yesterday’s conspiracy. Yesterday’s conspiracy is today’s reality.”

There is no evidence that noncitizens cast ballots during the 2020 presidential election, but Mr. Trump and other Republicans have again raised the possibility that it could happen this year. They have cited the surge in migrants across the United States border with Mexico to claim that the likelihood has grown, and they argue that even a minuscule number of illegal votes could swing a presidential election.

“Noncitizen voting, whether it’s one vote or a million votes, dilutes the voting power of the citizen,” Representative August Pfluger, Republican of Texas and the author of the bill, said on Thursday. “Congress must act clearly and decisively to bar noncitizens from voting in any election, including in Washington, D.C.”

Some Democrats argue that immigrants should have voting rights regardless of their status, as most of them pay taxes at levels comparable to that of U.S. citizens, contribute to their local economies and send their children to local schools.

“At the local level, everybody has the same basic interest in efficient garbage collection, excellent public schools and so on,” Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, said.

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat and the District's nonvoting delegate, said that Congress should not interfere in the District’s local affairs and criticized the timing of the effort, given that primary voting is already underway for some elections in D.C.

“They did so to disrupt the elections,” she said of congressional Republicans.

Under the Constitution, Congress has authority over D.C. affairs. The House advanced two measures last year to overturn D.C. laws, including the noncitizen voting measure and another, overhauling the criminal code.

The G.O.P.-led effort partially succeeded when President Biden signed the bill to undo the changes in the criminal code. But the Democratic-led Senate refused to take up the repeal of the noncitizen voting law, allowing it to go into effect last March. It is expected to do so again this year, leaving the voting law intact.

Luke Broadwater contributed reporting.

Our Coverage of Congress

Here’s the latest news and analysis from capitol hill..

Border Deal Fails Again: Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border enforcement bill for a second time this year , voting down legislation they initially insisted upon to stem a surge of migrants across the United States border with Mexico.

Noncitizen Voting Law: The House passed legislation that would undo a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote  in local elections, part of a broader bid by Republicans to amplify false claims of widespread illegal voting by immigrants.

Democrats’ ‘Sword and Shield’ Strategy: Despite certain defeat, Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, is pushing showdown votes on border security  and abortion rights  ahead of this year’s elections. Here’s why .

Trump’s Meeting With Oil Executives: Senate Democrats opened an investigation  into a fund-raising dinner where Donald Trump asked oil executives to donate $1 billion to his campaign and vowed to roll back climate rules .

A New Centrism Rises: The emergence of a new form of American centrism — call it neopopulism  — has made the last four years arguably the most productive period of bipartisanship in Washington in decades.