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1 [1] (March 6, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetry0001 and id is 1 raw text is: I ~ or nin Updated March 6, 2026 Assisting and Evacuating U.S. Citizens Abroad During International Crises Congress has mandated that the U.S. Department of State (DOS; the Department) provide consular services to American citizens around the world. Such services include disseminating information regarding any major disaster or incident abroad affecting the safety of U.S. citizens and, when their lives are endangered by such crises, facilitating their safe and efficient evacuation. DOS scaled up consular assistance to U.S. citizens across the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, 2026. Members of Congress are conducting oversight of DOS's consular response and in some cases have expressed criticism of the timeliness and extent of DOS consular assistance. Some press reports have described factors that are complicating DOS's work in this area, including airport and airspace closures and flight cancellations throughout the region, along with Iranian attacks targeting U.S. overseas posts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Trav information and the STEP Pro ram Section 43 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-885; 22 U.S.C. §2715; the BAA) requires DOS to share information on any major disaster or incident overseas affecting the health and safety of U.S. citizens. DOS carries out this responsibility through the Consular Information Program (CIP), which includes a range of products intended to inform U.S. citizens worldwide of potential threats to their health or safety and the availability of consular services (see Table 1). DOS disseminates CIP products through several means, including the Bureau of Consular Affairs' website for U.S. citizens traveling abroad (http://travel.state.gov) and the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a digital service through which U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad can provide their contact information to receive CIP products applicable to any countries they select. While STEP helps overseas posts locate U.S. citizens in an emergency, U.S. citizens are not required to enroll, and DOS generally does not have the means to determine the precise number of U.S. citizens in a foreign country. CIP products are further disseminated through the websites of relevant overseas posts, DOS's social media accounts, and systems of U.S. citizen volunteers, or wardens, who pass information to other U.S. citizens. DOS had issued varying travel guidance for different Middle East countries prior to February 28 and has issued several CIP products following the onset of U.S. military operations against Iran. For example, after combat operations began on February 28, DOS released a Worldwide Caution advising U.S. citizens in the Middle East to exercise increased caution and follow security guidance issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Worldwide Caution added that U.S. citizens may experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures. That same day, U.S. embassies across the Middle East began issuing Security Alerts providing guidance to U.S. citizens. Some Members of Congress and other stakeholders criticized the timeliness and clarity of DOS's initial response, arguing that the Department should have begun communicating with U.S. citizens in the region about the evolving security situation there, including by urging them to register with STEP, prior to the start of U.S. military operations. Comments attributed to Administration officials have noted that DOS has long maintained guidance urging U.S. citizens to refrain from traveling to some but not all countries in the Middle East. Table I. Selected Consular Information Program (CIP) Products Product Description Worldwide DOS's Worldwide Caution, published on Caution travel.state.gov, is updated to provide U.S. citizens information on universal travel risks. Travel Travel Advisories are issued for every country Advisory and include guidance regarding country-specific security concerns. Each Travel Advisory is designated at an overall Level ranging from Level I (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel). Alerts Overseas posts create alerts to notify U.S. (including citizens within their jurisdiction of relevant Security safety and security information, often in Alerts) response to significant events. Depending on the nature of the risk outlined in the Alert, DOS may label it a Security Alert, Demonstration Alert, Weather Alert, or Health Alert. Source: U.S Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual. Overseas Evacuations Section 103 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-399; 22 U.S.C. §4802) requires DOS to develop and implement policies and programs to provide for the safe and efficient evacuation of...private United States citizens when their lives are endangered. In addition, Section 4 of the BAA (22 U.S.C. §2671) authorizes expenditures for the evacuation of private United States citizens or third-country nationals, on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable. Private U.S. citizens thus generally have been responsible Won I Resedrch Service t Ier~ I live hi a ~ 'e 914 0