[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 49277-49278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20395]



[[Page 49275]]

Vol. 76

Tuesday,

No. 153

August 9, 2011

Part V





The President





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Proclamation 8697--Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants 
of Persons Who Participate in Serious Human Rights and Humanitarian Law 
Violations and Other Abuses


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 49277]]

                Proclamation 8697 of August 4, 2011

                
Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and 
                Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Participate in Serious 
                Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Violations and Other 
                Abuses

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The United States enduring commitment to respect for 
                human rights and humanitarian law requires that its 
                Government be able to ensure that the United States 
                does not become a safe haven for serious violators of 
                human rights and humanitarian law and those who engage 
                in other related abuses. Universal respect for human 
                rights and humanitarian law and the prevention of 
                atrocities internationally promotes U.S. values and 
                fundamental U.S. interests in helping secure peace, 
                deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime 
                and corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent 
                humanitarian crises around the globe. I therefore have 
                determined that it is in the interests of the United 
                States to take action to restrict the international 
                travel and to suspend the entry into the United States, 
                as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of certain persons who 
                have engaged in the acts outlined in section 1 of this 
                proclamation.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, by the authority 
                vested in me as President by the Constitution and the 
                laws of the United States of America, including section 
                212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, 
                as amended (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 
                3, United States Code, hereby find that the 
                unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the 
                United States of persons described in section 1 of this 
                proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of 
                the United States. I therefore hereby proclaim that:

                Section 1. The entry into the United States, as 
                immigrants or nonimmigrants, of the following persons 
                is hereby suspended:

                    (a) Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided 
                and abetted, committed or otherwise participated in, 
                including through command responsibility, widespread or 
                systematic violence against any civilian population 
                based in whole or in part on race; color; descent; sex; 
                disability; membership in an indigenous group; 
                language; religion; political opinion; national origin; 
                ethnicity; membership in a particular social group; 
                birth; or sexual orientation or gender identity, or who 
                attempted or conspired to do so.
                    (b) Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided 
                and abetted, committed or otherwise participated in, 
                including through command responsibility, war crimes, 
                crimes against humanity or other serious violations of 
                human rights, or who attempted or conspired to do so.

                Sec. 2. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply 
                with respect to any person otherwise covered by section 
                1 where the entry of such person would not harm the 
                foreign relations interests of the United States.

                Sec. 3. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's 
                designee, in his or her sole discretion, shall identify 
                persons covered by section 1 of this proclamation, 
                pursuant to such standards and procedures as the 
                Secretary may establish.

[[Page 49278]]

                Sec. 4. The Secretary of State shall have 
                responsibility for implementing this proclamation 
                pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary, in 
                consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
                may establish.

                Sec. 5. For any person whose entry is otherwise 
                suspended under this proclamation entry will be denied, 
                unless the Secretary of State determines that the 
                particular entry of such person would be in the 
                interests of the United States. In exercising such 
                authority, the Secretary of State shall consult the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security on matters related to 
                admissibility or inadmissibility within the authority 
                of the Secretary of Homeland Security.

                Sec. 6. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed 
                to derogate from United States Government obligations 
                under applicable international agreements, or to 
                suspend entry based solely on an alien's ideology, 
                opinions, or beliefs, or based solely on expression 
                that would be considered protected under U.S. 
                interpretations of international agreements to which 
                the United States is a party. Nothing in this 
                proclamation shall be construed to limit the authority 
                of the United States to admit or to suspend entry of 
                particular individuals into the United States under the 
                Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) 
                or under any other provision of U.S. law.

                Sec. 7. This proclamation is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.

                Sec. 8. This proclamation is effective immediately and 
                shall remain in effect until such time as the Secretary 
                of State determines that it is no longer necessary and 
                should be terminated, either in whole or in part. Any 
                such termination shall become effective upon 
                publication in the Federal Register.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
                <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2011-20395
Filed 8-8-11; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P