Message from FPA PRESIDENT, Ian Williams

Following the FPA’s alert many journalists organizations joined our members in expressing strong reservation about the proposed revision of “I” visa terms in time for the deadline on 26 October 2020. Unfortunately, the comments are for consideration by the Department of Homeland Security, whose history does not show many signs of flexibility for foreigners or the press. 
 
They are more likely to treat this as an immigration issue rather than one of press freedom and on their own are unlikely to be concerned about the ability of the foreign media to report fearlessly on the US. 
 
Clearly the concerns of non-voting foreign media are unlikely to be a high priority to elected officials in an election year.  Even so the FPA calls upon all friends of a free press and international exchange of information to press politicians and the industry to use their influence to ensure that the DHS proposals are withdrawn.  
 
We call on concerned media and human rights organizations and officials to follow on from their submissions to the Federal Register and to coordinate a joint campaign with us against the restrictions. 
 
We would welcome any input from members on what action we could take. 
 
Ian Williams,  
President, FPA 
[email protected]