The United States has expanded temporary Ebola-related travel restrictions to include green card holders who recently traveled to parts of Africa affected by ongoing outbreaks, according to a Reuters report citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new policy applies to lawful permanent residents who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. Until now, permanent residents had largely been exempt from similar public health restrictions. The CDC said the move is designed to reduce the risk of Ebola entering the United States as authorities respond to outbreaks involving the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.
“Applying this authority to lawful permanent residents for a limited period of time provides a balance between protecting public health and managing emergency response resources,” the CDC said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
READ:Travel bans return: Trump targets more countries over security risks (December 17, 2025)
The restrictions were issued under Title 42, a public health authority, a legal mechanism that allows the federal government to limit entry into the country during infectious disease emergencies. Reuters reported that the CDC had earlier imposed restrictions on non-U.S. citizens travelling from the affected countries before broadening the order to include green card holders.
The decision reflects growing concern among global health officials. The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak risk in Congo as “very high” and declared the Ebola outbreaks in Congo and Uganda an international public health emergency, Reuters reported. The policy shift could have implications for immigrant communities in the United States, including African and South Asian families with relatives or professional ties in the affected regions. Immigration attorneys and public health experts have previously noted that travel restrictions tied to disease outbreaks can create uncertainty for permanent residents, workers, and international travelers.
READ: How recent changes in US immigration laws affect the need for travel insurance for parents visiting (May 7, 2026)
Reuters also reported that the CDC is expanding enhanced Ebola screening for returning U.S. travelers. In addition to Washington Dulles International Airport, screening operations are now being conducted at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The latest measures underscore how global disease outbreaks continue to influence U.S. immigration and border policy years after the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped public health enforcement and international travel rules.