42 USC § 265 - Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent spread of communicable diseases

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s265"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 265 - Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent spread of communicable diseases"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "265"
section_name: "Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent spread of communicable diseases"
chapter_number: 6
chapter_name: "PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES"
part_number: "G"
part_name: "Quarantine and Inspection"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 362, 58 Stat. 704.)"
---


# § 265. Suspension of entries and imports from designated places to prevent spread of communicable diseases

Whenever the Surgeon General determines that by reason of the existence of any communicable disease in a foreign country there is serious danger of the introduction of such disease into the United States, and that this danger is so increased by the introduction of persons or property from such country that a suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is required in the interest of the public health, the Surgeon General, in accordance with regulations approved by the President, shall have the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, the introduction of persons and property from such countries or places as he shall designate in order to avert such danger, and for such period of time as he may deem necessary for such purpose.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 362, 58 Stat. 704.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to , which is classified to , Education.

## Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Office of Surgeon General abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. , 31 F.R. 8855, , and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under . Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, , 52 F.R. 11754.

### Delegation of Functions

For assignment of functions of President under this section, see section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 13295, , 68 F.R. 17255, set out as a note under .