State Department Ramps Up Border and Export Security Controls Now
Published Date: 3/14/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Secretary of State is leading a strong effort to protect America by controlling who and what crosses our borders. This means tighter rules on visas, exports, and travel to keep out threats like spies, drugs, and illegal migration. These changes affect many federal agencies and aim to keep Americans safe without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Border Controls Declared Foreign Affairs
The Secretary of State determined that all efforts to control the status, entry, and exit of people, and the transfer of goods, services, data, technology, and other items across U.S. borders "constitute a foreign affairs function of the United States" under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553 and 554. This is an official, written determination dated February 21, 2025 that classifies those border-control activities as foreign affairs functions.
State Department Claims Policy Primacy
The Department of State states it enjoys primacy among federal agencies in conducting foreign policy and lists specific matters it considers within its authority, including protection and travel of U.S. citizens overseas, visa operations and visa issuance, implementation of the Arms Export Control Act, and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The Secretary of State recorded this position in a determination dated February 21, 2025.
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Key Dates
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