usatoday--2020-03-19--'I can't help but feel we are abandoned': Stranded Americans seek US help amid global lockdown

Kristin Monesmith is stranded in Peru with no way to get back to North Carolina , where the ER nurse is desperately needed at her local hospital .
Arizona resident Gabrielle Almeter and her parents are marooned in Marrakesh after the Moroccan government said it would close its borders and cancel international flights .
Chris Pierce is stuck in the Philippines with his wife and 9-year-old son after that government shut its borders and went into lockdown .
They are among hundreds of Americans suddenly in limbo amid a global freeze on international travel and mass quarantines as the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic with unprecedented restrictions .
Besieged by pleas for help , the State Department and its embassies around the world have offered little to no assistance , these stranded travelers say .
More than 400 Americans are stuck in Peru alone , according to Monesmith and others who have been tracking the problem .
Stuck abroad : Americans in Cambodia amid pandemic say they are 'being detained , ' not quarantined Chris Pierce and his wife , Nila , have contacted American embassies in both Manila and Cebu in the Philippines via email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They have n't received a single response .
`` I 'm a realistic person .
I do realize they are probably overwhelmed , '' Chris Pierce told USA TODAY .
`` But at the same time , all U.S. citizens should be a priority .
...
I ca n't help but feel we are abandoned . ''
In an interview Wednesday with Fox News , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the State Department is `` working to try and solve problems for each of those American citizens , '' and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about them over the last couple of days , '' Pompeo said , referring to a group of American students in Peru , among other cases .
`` It ’ ll take us some amount of time . ''
But some lawmakers are growing frustrated with the lack of clarity or a coordinated response .
“ I have heard from an alarming number of Virginians in the past few days who are abroad and unable to return to the United States due to restrictions on movement , closed borders , nationwide lockdowns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner , D-Va. , wrote in a letter to Pompeo on Wednesday .
In an interview , Warner said his office has received more than 20 pleas for help in recent days from constituents stranded in Peru , Honduras , Morocco , China , Guatemala and other countries .
`` I 'm not sure that department is providing the kind of clarity , outreach and assistance that Americans need , '' Warner said .
`` We really just need to reach out to our fellow Americans and make sure we get them back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , urged the State Department to begin chartering commercial airplanes to bring stranded Americans home .
He said the Trump administration should use an existing civil airfleet program for such evacuations .
“ No American citizen should be abandoned overseas as we confront this unprecedented pandemic simply because of a failure of government to provide them the support that they need , ” Menendez said Thursday .
“ If there ever was a need to increase our nation ’ s aircraft capability during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New Jersey Democrat said the Pentagon should also explore the use of military aircraft to repatriate Americans .
A State Department official , who was not authorized to speak on the record , said the agency could not provide an estimate of how many Americans are trying to get back to the U.S. from overseas amid the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` We are considering all options to assist U.S. citizens in these countries and are continuously assessing travel conditions in all areas affected by COVID-19 , '' the official said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisories and safety information for U.S. travelers as situations evolve . ''
Meanwhile , other countries were busy arranging emergency flights to bring their citizens home .
Israel has brought 380 students home from Moldova and planned to send a plane to Peru on Thursday to bring back a group of young Israelis stranded there after Peru 's president , Martín Vizcarra , announced Sunday that he would close his country 's borders , according to The Jerusalem Post .
“ The young people will be brought to Israel free of charge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French authorities were arranging emergency flights from Morocco to bring back dozens of French nationals , according to Reuters .
And Germany 's Foreign Minister announced an `` airlift '' for thousands of German citizens stranded abroad .
For Americans in similar situations ?
Shuttered embassies , recorded phone messages and automated emails .
As soon as Candace Kaiser and her friends learned of Peru 's lockdown , they scrambled to find flights home to South Carolina .
`` Airlines booked up incredibly fast and websites were crashing , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' For a one-way ticket back to the U.S. , she said , prices ran as high as $ 6,000 .
`` I 'm 28 years old .
I ca n't afford something like that , '' said Kaiser , who works in marketing and communications .
They 've called the embassy , but no one has answered .
They tried emailing and received one automated response .
`` Due to COVID-19 concerns , the US .
consular section in Peru is reduced to emergency services only , '' the message reads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has successfully evacuated many of our citizens in recent weeks , special flights do not reflect our standard practice and should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens abroad who may be impacted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19 . ''
When Monesmith , the North Carolina ER nurse , learned of Peru 's lockdown , `` the last flight from Cusco to Lima had already left , '' she said .
So she went to the U.S. Embassy .
“ The doors were locked , with a sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their website , which said nothing , ” Monesmith said .
“ The embassy has been no help at all .
The State Department has said that they do not send flights to bring Americans home , that is not their practice so we should not expect it.
” She noted that Peru 's government has deployed its military to enforce the lockdown and has suspended some constitutional rights .
`` Life in Cusco is a little scary .
Police are all over the streets , '' she said .
`` We now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5 a.m. '' There are 420 of us here in Cusco .
We just want to go home , '' Monesmith said .
`` I ’ m far more needed at home in the ER helping patients . ''
Chris Pierce said his family received some potentially good news on Thursday ; Philippine 's tourism authorities may try to arrange flights out of the country for foreign nationals .
`` Glad to hear the Philippine government is doing their part on helping us get home , '' he told USA TODAY , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local tourism office about the possible exit plans .
If they ca n't get out , Pierce said , he 's worried about the consequences of being stuck for as long as a month : Their jobs , their bills .
After speaking with their employers , Chris and Nila have been assured they will have jobs to return to , he said .
But they are n't being paid while they are away .
`` We will be in debt and then some , '' Pierce said .
More : Advocates warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentions China

Deirdre Shesgreen and Morgan Hines, USA TODAY

'I can't help but feel we are abandoned': Stranded Americans seek US help amid global lockdown
Show Caption Hide Caption Americans fight to get home amid coronavirus lockdowns These Americans were stranded abroad when the coronavirus pandemic suddenly shut borders. Many are still trying to get home. USA TODAY
Kristin Monesmith is stranded in Peru with no way to get back to North Carolina, where the ER nurse is desperately needed at her local hospital.
Arizona resident Gabrielle Almeter and her parents are marooned in Marrakesh after the Moroccan government said it would close its borders and cancel international flights.
Chris Pierce is stuck in the Philippines with his wife and 9-year-old son after that government shut its borders and went into lockdown.
They are among hundreds of Americans suddenly in limbo amid a global freeze on international travel and mass quarantines as the U.S. and other countries respond to the coronavirus pandemic with unprecedented restrictions.
Besieged by pleas for help, the State Department and its embassies around the world have offered little to no assistance, these stranded travelers say. More than 400 Americans are stuck in Peru alone, according to Monesmith and others who have been tracking the problem.
Stuck abroad: Americans in Cambodia amid pandemic say they are 'being detained,' not quarantined
Chris Pierce and his wife, Nila, have contacted American embassies in both Manila and Cebu in the Philippines via email and phone – 70 times in all. They haven't received a single response.
"I'm a realistic person. I do realize they are probably overwhelmed," Chris Pierce told USA TODAY. "But at the same time, all U.S. citizens should be a priority. ... I can't help but feel we are abandoned."
In an interview Wednesday with Fox News, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the State Department is "working to try and solve problems for each of those American citizens," and he urged patience.
"We just learned about them over the last couple of days," Pompeo said, referring to a group of American students in Peru, among other cases. "It’ll take us some amount of time."
'Unable to return'
But some lawmakers are growing frustrated with the lack of clarity or a coordinated response.
“I have heard from an alarming number of Virginians in the past few days who are abroad and unable to return to the United States due to restrictions on movement, closed borders, nationwide lockdowns, and canceled flights," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., wrote in a letter to Pompeo on Wednesday.
In an interview, Warner said his office has received more than 20 pleas for help in recent days from constituents stranded in Peru, Honduras, Morocco, China, Guatemala and other countries.
"I'm not sure that department is providing the kind of clarity, outreach and assistance that Americans need," Warner said. "We really just need to reach out to our fellow Americans and make sure we get them back safe."
Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the State Department to begin chartering commercial airplanes to bring stranded Americans home. He said the Trump administration should use an existing civil airfleet program for such evacuations.
“No American citizen should be abandoned overseas as we confront this unprecedented pandemic simply because of a failure of government to provide them the support that they need,” Menendez said Thursday. “If there ever was a need to increase our nation’s aircraft capability during a national crisis, this is it.”
The New Jersey Democrat said the Pentagon should also explore the use of military aircraft to repatriate Americans.
A State Department official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the agency could not provide an estimate of how many Americans are trying to get back to the U.S. from overseas amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We are considering all options to assist U.S. citizens in these countries and are continuously assessing travel conditions in all areas affected by COVID-19," the official said. "We will continue to update our travel advisories and safety information for U.S. travelers as situations evolve."
Other countries bring citizens home
Meanwhile, other countries were busy arranging emergency flights to bring their citizens home.
Israel has brought 380 students home from Moldova and planned to send a plane to Peru on Thursday to bring back a group of young Israelis stranded there after Peru's president, Martín Vizcarra, announced Sunday that he would close his country's borders, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“The young people will be brought to Israel free of charge,” Foreign Ministry Israel Katz said.
French authorities were arranging emergency flights from Morocco to bring back dozens of French nationals, according to Reuters. And Germany's Foreign Minister announced an "airlift" for thousands of German citizens stranded abroad.
For Americans in similar situations? Shuttered embassies, recorded phone messages and automated emails.
As soon as Candace Kaiser and her friends learned of Peru's lockdown, they scrambled to find flights home to South Carolina.
"Airlines booked up incredibly fast and websites were crashing," she said. "Then came the price gouging." For a one-way ticket back to the U.S., she said, prices ran as high as $6,000.
"I'm 28 years old. I can't afford something like that," said Kaiser, who works in marketing and communications. They've called the embassy, but no one has answered. They tried emailing and received one automated response.
"Due to COVID-19 concerns, the US. consular section in Peru is reduced to emergency services only," the message reads, in part. "While the U.S. government has successfully evacuated many of our citizens in recent weeks, special flights do not reflect our standard practice and should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens abroad who may be impacted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19."
When Monesmith, the North Carolina ER nurse, learned of Peru's lockdown, "the last flight from Cusco to Lima had already left," she said.
So she went to the U.S. Embassy.
“The doors were locked, with a sign on the door just referring people to their website, which said nothing,” Monesmith said. “The embassy has been no help at all. The State Department has said that they do not send flights to bring Americans home, that is not their practice so we should not expect it.”
She noted that Peru's government has deployed its military to enforce the lockdown and has suspended some constitutional rights.
"Life in Cusco is a little scary. Police are all over the streets," she said. "We now have a curfew" from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
"There are 420 of us here in Cusco. We just want to go home," Monesmith said. "I’m far more needed at home in the ER helping patients."
Possible good news
Chris Pierce said his family received some potentially good news on Thursday; Philippine's tourism authorities may try to arrange flights out of the country for foreign nationals.
"Glad to hear the Philippine government is doing their part on helping us get home," he told USA TODAY, as his wife tried to reach the local tourism office about the possible exit plans.
If they can't get out, Pierce said, he's worried about the consequences of being stuck for as long as a month: Their jobs, their bills.
After speaking with their employers, Chris and Nila have been assured they will have jobs to return to, he said. But they aren't being paid while they are away.
"We will be in debt and then some," Pierce said.
Contributing: The Associated Press
More: Advocates warned against coronavirus stigma, but Trump still mentions China


usatoday--2020-03-19--Wartime authority and eviction relief: Here are the major changes announced by Trump's coronavirus t

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force announced the administration is enacting a wartime provision in response to the spread of the virus , and referred to the virus as an `` enemy . ''
It 's just one step the task force has taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic .
In a series of press conferences over the last several days , the president has declared a national emergency and warned that Americans may need to practice social distancing through the summer .
Here are the updates the White House team gave on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act grants the president the ability to direct the production of certain equipment .
Trump did not say specifically how the administration plans to use the wartime authority , but it could allow for the expansion of the production of vital medical supplies like face masks and ventilators .
Trump said the White House has `` targets '' for equipment .
“ We need millions of masks , ” Trump said .
“ We need respirators.
” 'How bad is this ? '
It 's bad ' : Trump shifts tone as pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives Trump the authority to direct private companies for matters of public defense .
And in 2009 that authority was expanded by Congress to allow for preparation for emergency response services .
Reports of a shortage of personal protective equipment at hospitals continue to surface .
On Tuesday , the White House task force requested that construction companies donate any heavy duty N95 masks they have to hospitals and stop ordering more from manufacturers .
Trump said that the Department Housing and Urban Development would suspend foreclosures and evictions through the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has resulted in layoffs and missed work .
Also on Wednesday , the Federal Housing Finance Agency said it would suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days for single-family homeowner mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac .
Border between US and Canada closing Trump announced earlier Wednesday that the border between the U.S. and Canada would temporarily close to discretionary travel , though it will remain open to trade .
He said it was a mutual agreement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .
`` We will be , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic , '' Trump tweeted Wednesday .
At the coronavirus task force press conference Trump said the restrictions would likely last for 30 days .
Trump also confirmed that he plans to invoke a provision that would allow him to prohibit certain people from entering the country , including asylum seekers and those entering the country illegally at the southern border .
But , he said , the U.S. would not be closing the southern border .
The federal government is recommending health care providers and patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital resources for urgent coronavirus cases .
Officials have warned that a surge in cases could overwhelm the health care system , underscoring the need for social distancing measures .
“ We fully appreciate that this is going to have a major impact on the health care system , ” said Seema Verma , director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services .
Trump also said health officials are working on a `` self swab '' coronavirus test that would allow front-line health care workers to test themselves for the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump said .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Pentagon would also make 5 million masks available from its reserves to the Department of Health and Human Services , with the first million immediately available .
The Defense Department will also make up to 2,000 ventilators available as needed , Esper said .
And Trump said the government is ordering `` thousands and thousands '' of ventilators in case they are needed to treat coronavirus patients .
Dr. Deborah Birx said at the Wednesday press conference that other countries have reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , which has been officials have advised affects the elderly and medically vulnerable the most .
`` You have the potential to spread it , '' Birx said of the millennial generation .
She urged young people to take precautions .
The task force has been asking Americans to avoid contact with others so they reduce the risk of unknowingly transmitting the virus , without showing symptoms , to those who could be the most impacted .

Wartime authority and eviction relief: Here are the major changes announced by Trump's coronavirus task force
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Donald Trump invokes Defense Production Act President Donald Trump announced he is invoking the Defense Production Act to address the coronavirus crisis. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force announced the administration is enacting a wartime provision in response to the spread of the virus, and referred to the virus as an "enemy."
It's just one step the task force has taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic. In a series of press conferences over the last several days, the president has declared a national emergency and warned that Americans may need to practice social distancing through the summer.
Here are the updates the White House team gave on Wednesday to combat COVID-19:
Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act grants the president the ability to direct the production of certain equipment. Trump did not say specifically how the administration plans to use the wartime authority, but it could allow for the expansion of the production of vital medical supplies like face masks and ventilators. Trump said the White House has "targets" for equipment.
“We need millions of masks,” Trump said. “We need respirators.”
'How bad is this?' It's bad': Trump shifts tone as pandemic worsens, crisis hits economy
The act gives Trump the authority to direct private companies for matters of public defense. And in 2009 that authority was expanded by Congress to allow for preparation for emergency response services.
Reports of a shortage of personal protective equipment at hospitals continue to surface. On Tuesday, the White House task force requested that construction companies donate any heavy duty N95 masks they have to hospitals and stop ordering more from manufacturers.
HUD to suspend foreclosures, evictions
Trump said that the Department Housing and Urban Development would suspend foreclosures and evictions through the end of April amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has resulted in layoffs and missed work.
Also on Wednesday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said it would suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days for single-family homeowner mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Border between US and Canada closing
Trump announced earlier Wednesday that the border between the U.S. and Canada would temporarily close to discretionary travel, though it will remain open to trade. He said it was a mutual agreement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic," Trump tweeted Wednesday.
At the coronavirus task force press conference Trump said the restrictions would likely last for 30 days.
Trump also confirmed that he plans to invoke a provision that would allow him to prohibit certain people from entering the country, including asylum seekers and those entering the country illegally at the southern border. But, he said, the U.S. would not be closing the southern border.
Measures to alleviate strain on health care system
The federal government is recommending health care providers and patients postpone any elective procedures to free up hospital resources for urgent coronavirus cases. Officials have warned that a surge in cases could overwhelm the health care system, underscoring the need for social distancing measures.
“We fully appreciate that this is going to have a major impact on the health care system,” said Seema Verma, director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Trump also said health officials are working on a "self swab" coronavirus test that would allow front-line health care workers to test themselves for the virus. "It would free up a lot," Trump said.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Pentagon would also make 5 million masks available from its reserves to the Department of Health and Human Services, with the first million immediately available. The Defense Department will also make up to 2,000 ventilators available as needed, Esper said.
And Trump said the government is ordering "thousands and thousands" of ventilators in case they are needed to treat coronavirus patients.
Millennials should take precautions
Dr. Deborah Birx said at the Wednesday press conference that other countries have reported that young people are becoming ill from the coronavirus, which has been officials have advised affects the elderly and medically vulnerable the most.
"You have the potential to spread it," Birx said of the millennial generation. She urged young people to take precautions.
The task force has been asking Americans to avoid contact with others so they reduce the risk of unknowingly transmitting the virus, without showing symptoms, to those who could be the most impacted.
Contributing: Courtney Subramanian, John Fritze, David Jackson, Tom Vanden Brook