Reporters Without Borders and 16 press freedom groups denounce proposed journalist visa restrictions

Following the announcement of the proposed changes, the public had 30 days to comment on the measure. You can read RSF’s public comment here. DHS will now review the over 15,000 public comments it received on the rule.

In August, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a new rule that would drastically restrict the amount of time foreign journalists can live and work in the country. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) led a group of 17 organizations calling for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to drop the proposed changes. It also submitted its public comment on the restrictions.

READ THE JOINT STATEMENT HERE

Under DHS’ proposed system, visas used by journalists would be restricted to 90 days for Chinese nationals and 240 days for citizens of other countries. A DHS press release alleged, without evidence, that the current visa system for journalists pose “safety risks.”

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