Professor Ronnie R. Gipson Jr. and his students submit public comments to Department of Homeland Security on trade issues

CARLISLE, PA—Professor Ronnie R. Gipson Jr. submitted a public comment to the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed revision to Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) entry requirements for travelers entering the country as part of the visa waiver program. The comment highlighted (i) the overly burdensome nature of the revised social media disclosure and (ii) the offensiveness of the accompanying privacy intrusions.

The comment referenced internal government data showing that expansive social media disclosures do not achieve the stated goal of improving border security.

Henry Pryor ’27, Alex Harris ’27, Vikram Mahadevan ’27, and Sabrina Schoenborn ’27, students in Gipson’s “International Trade Law” seminar, each submitted public comments addressing the consequential impact of the proposed revisions on trade, specifically tourism. Participation by the students in the public comment process demonstrates how to utilize the full gamut of lawyers’ advocacy resources to shape the laws of our society.

Ronnie R. Gipson Jr. is a Visiting Associate Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law. He earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and he holds a B.A. from Texas A & M University in Modern Languages (French). Professor Gipson’s scholarship sits at the intersection of aviation law and international economic policy and trade law. Professor Gipson’s current projects explore topical issues making headline news globally.