The United States Department of Justice on Tuesday filed a statement of interest in Hawaii federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by Nevada and California residents who own property in Hawaii challenging a measure by Gov. David Ige in response to COVID‑19 that mandates a 14-day self-quarantine for individuals entering Hawaii.

The DOJ’s press release, which says it’s following Attorney General William Barr’s initiative to protect civil liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic, says:

“Under the governor’s latest COVID-19 order, the Hawaii residents who have remained in the state since the onset of the pandemic — regardless of whether they have self-quarantined within the last 14 days or ever — are free to travel between the islands, maintain and freely enjoy their properties, and engage in commerce with certain businesses. Out-of-staters such as the plaintiffs, by contrast, must self-quarantine in a single location for two weeks before they can share in the same freedoms available to most Hawaii residents.”

Hawaii residents would also have to undergo the 14-day quarantine if they come in from out of state.  Until June 16, there was also an interisland travel quarantine.  State officials have said the suit is without merit.

Today, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut issued a travel advisory that requires people arriving from states with high coronavirus rates to quarantine for 14 days.  The initial 9 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina,Texas, Utah, and Washington.

Click here for the Department of Justice release.