Amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have closed their borders, leaving American tourists, families, and students stranded

In a letter, Klobuchar called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to expedite the safe return of Americans abroad

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urged the Administration to help Americans stranded abroad to return home to the United States safely. Amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have closed their borders, leaving American tourists, families, and students stranded. In a letter, Klobuchar called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to expedite the safe return of Americans abroad.

“Currently, my office is in communication with U.S. citizens from Minnesota stranded in eleven different countries, across five continents. With so many of our citizens in need of immediate assistance, I urge you to coordinate with commercial airlines, foreign governments, and other federal agencies to develop plans to safely return them to the U.S. as soon as possible,” Klobuchar wrote.

“The Department should consider all options in doing this, including charter flights, utilization of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet readiness program, and arranging for waivers for commercial airlines to operate a limited number of flights to meet the demand of returning Americans.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Pompeo:

I write to urge the Department to expedite the safe return of American citizens stranded abroad as a result of travel restrictions from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

An increasing number of countries around the world are implementing significant travel restrictions and border closures to limit the spread of the virus, sometimes with little to no warning. As a result, American citizens have found themselves stuck after their commercial flights and other forms of transportation have been cancelled.

Currently, my office is in communication with U.S. citizens from Minnesota stranded in eleven different countries, across five continents. With so many of our citizens in need of immediate assistance, I urge you to coordinate with commercial airlines, foreign governments, and other federal agencies to develop plans to safely return them to the U.S. as soon as possible. The Department should consider all options in doing this, including charter flights, utilization of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet readiness program, and arranging for waivers for commercial airlines to operate a limited number of flights to meet the demand of returning Americans.

Additionally, if any Americans stranded in foreign countries face expiration of their visas prior to departure from the country, I ask that you work with the host country to take the necessary steps to allow them to legally remain in the country until their departure.

I also urge the Department, working through our U.S. embassies abroad, to provide detailed and consistent communications to citizens stranded abroad. Many of our fellow Americans are facing uncertainty during this challenging time, and it is critical that they know that their government is working hard to assist them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for coordinating transportation. Now that the State Department has declared a level four travel advisory, it is more important than ever to take quick action to return Americans stranded abroad home.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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