Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§265 Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent spread of communicable diseases

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part Part G— - Quarantine and Inspection › § 265

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The U.S. Surgeon General can stop people and goods from coming into the country from foreign places if a contagious disease there could seriously spread to the United States. He may do this, following rules the President approves, for all or part of entries from places he names and for as long as he thinks is needed to protect public health.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §265

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whenever the Surgeon General determines that by reason of the existence of any communicable disease in a foreign country there is serious danger of the introduction of such disease into the United States, and that this danger is so increased by the introduction of persons or property from such country that a suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is required in the interest of the public health, the Surgeon General, in accordance with regulations approved by the President, shall have the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, the introduction of persons and property from such countries or places as he shall designate in order to avert such danger, and for such period of time as he may deem necessary for such purpose.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Office of Surgeon General abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Mar. 30, 1987, 52 F.R. 11754. Delegation of Functions For assignment of functions of President under this section, see section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 13295, Apr. 4, 2003, 68 F.R. 17255, set out as a note under section 264 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 265

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73