Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/17pdf/17-965_h315.pdf
Page Number: 10.0

Cite as:  585 U. S. ____ (2018) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

Acting Secretary recommended that the President impose 
entry  restrictions  on  certain  nationals  from  all  of  those 
countries except Iraq.  §§1(g), (h).  She also concluded that 
although  Somalia  generally  satisfied  the  information-
sharing component of the baseline standards, its “identity-
management  deficiencies”  and  “significant  terrorist  pres-
ence” presented special  circumstances justifying additional
limitations.  She therefore recommended entry limitations
for  certain  nationals  of  that  country.  §1(i).  As  for  Iraq,
the  Acting  Secretary  found  that  entry  limitations  on  its 
nationals  were  not  warranted  given  the  close  cooperative 
relationship between the U. S. and Iraqi Governments and 
Iraq’s commitment to combating ISIS.  §1(g).

After  consulting  with  multiple  Cabinet  members  and 
other  officials,  the  President  adopted  the  Acting  Secre-
tary’s  recommendations  and  issued  the  Proclamation.
Invoking  his  authority  under  8  U. S. C.  §§1182(f )  and 
1185(a),  the  President  determined  that  certain  entry
restrictions  were  necessary  to  “prevent  the  entry  of  those
foreign  nationals  about  whom  the  United  States  Govern-
ment lacks sufficient information”; “elicit improved identity-
management  and 
information-sharing  protocols  and 
practices  from  foreign  governments”;  and  otherwise  “ad-
vance  [the]  foreign  policy,  national  security,  and  counter-
terrorism  objectives”  of  the  United  States.    Proclamation 
§1(h).  The  President  explained  that  these  restrictions
would be the “most likely to encourage cooperation” while
“protect[ing]  the  United  States  until  such  time  as  im-
provements occur.”  Ibid. 

The  Proclamation  imposed  a  range  of  restrictions  that 
vary  based  on  the  “distinct  circumstances”  in  each  of  the 
eight countries.  Ibid.  For countries that do not cooperate 
with the United States in identifying security risks (Iran,
North Korea, and Syria), the Proclamation suspends entry
of all nationals, except for Iranians seeking nonimmigrant
§§2(b)(ii),  (d)(ii), 
student  and  exchange-visitor  visas.