The Trump administration has placed Americans currently in Congo on a “do-not-board” list, a move that prevents them from returning directly to the United States, according to Ars Technica.
Under the policy, affected citizens must spend 21 days in a third country before they are allowed to come home, the outlet reported.
Ars Technica reported the restriction in the context of an Ebola outbreak in Congo.
The requirement that citizens remain in a third country for three weeks represents a significant delay for those attempting to return home.
Further details about the scope of the policy, the number of Americans affected, and the specific agencies involved were not provided in the available source material.
Why it matters
The policy directly affects US citizens abroad who are seeking to return home, imposing a lengthy delay. It also raises questions about the balance between public health measures during an outbreak and citizens' ability to return to their own country.