Recently, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) presented a proposal to restrict international visas affecting journalists posted to the USA to 240 days, with only one extension of a further 240 days. This arises as part of the updated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Non-immigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.
Were this update to go through and be accepted the legislative process in the US Government, the negative consequences would be unfathomable for international journalists who are regularly posted for 2 to 5 years at a time to the US. Such extended periods allows journalists to better understand the environment they are reporting on, yielding richer reports and analysis to the citizens around the world.
Angela explained that “The EPC did not hesitate joining an international coalition of media organisations in opposing such unreasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and the freedom of press calling on the United States Department of Homeland Security to reconsider”.
To read the letter in full, please see below