The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it has begun implementing restrictions to the Visa Waiver Program, which offers tourists and business travelers expedited electronic processing and short-term visa-free travel. The restrictions, made law in the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks, block nationals from 38 countries who have traveled to Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan since March 1, 2011 from taking advantage of the program.

The announcement by DHS assures that “these individuals will still be able to apply for a visa using the regular immigration process at our embassies or consulates.” In addition, if emergency travel to the U.S. is necessary, our embassies and consulates “stand ready” to process applications on an expedited basis.

The new law hadn’t even gone into effect before lawmakers were calling for changes. A bipartisan group of senators warned the restrictions could unfairly exclude duel nationals who’d never even been to the Middle East. They also warned of the affected countries responding in kind.

As The Washington Post reports, Republicans were furious when Secretary of State John Kerry “sought to assuage Iranian concerns the new law could violate the nuclear pact by keeping potential tourists and investors from traveling to Iran, out of fears they would then later be prevented from easily going to the United States.”

“This legislation … allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the new strict requirements for specific people if and only if it would benefit law enforcement or the national security interests of the United States,” House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy said last month. “It was not and has never been Congress’s intent to allow the Administration to grant a blanket waiver to travelers to and from Iran in order to facilitate the implementation of the Iran deal.”