US Press Groups Urge Congress to Block DHS Visa Cap on Foreign Journalists

U.S. press and press-freedom groups urged Congress on Tuesday to block a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that would cap most foreign journalists on I visas at 240 days of stay, warning it would hamper long-term coverage and could be used to retaliate against critical reporting. In a joint letter dated Nov. 19, 31 organizations — including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), PEN America, the National Press Club (NPC), the Association of Foreign Correspondents in the U.S., and The NewsGuild-CWA — said the rule, set to take effect Sept. 15, would make it harder for foreign correspondents to work and could be exploited as a tool of reprisal.