Rep. Edward Royce, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, expressed “deep concern” in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry that visas were still being issued to nationals from the three most affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“It is my understanding that approximately 100 applicants for visas are visiting these three U.S. Embassies each day. Of course, once these individuals are issued a visa by the embassy, they are free to travel to the United States,” he said.
“I would strongly encourage the Department of State to immediately institute a temporary suspension of consular services – particularly the issuance of visas – for non-U.S. nationals…. This is a reasonable and immediately implementable containment measure that may help mitigate the risk [of Ebola],” he wrote....