Donald Trump could freeze immigration for years
On 22 April the United States President issued an executive order temporarily suspending the entry of certain immigrants to the US for 60 days.
In the third week of April President of the United States Donald Trump signed the executive order to suspend immigration during the coronavirus pandemic for 60 days. The entry of certain immigrants, those who were seen to present a risk to the US labor market during the economic recovery, was banned for two months.
Trump's immigrant block
The order blocks some individuals outside the US from settling permanently by obtaining what is informally known as a 'Green Card'. The measure applies to requests for permanent residence based on employment in the US and requests based on familial ties but contains several exceptions.
Now Trump’s administration wants to keep using the coronavirus pandemic as an ‘excuse’ to maintain this order for several more months, or even years, according to the information revealed by The Wall Street Journal.
Also reported with the 60-day immigration ban issued on 22 April, the White House wants to reengage Donald Trump’s plan to close the borders and even build the wall he has been campaigning on since before he was even elected President.
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the world, his plan to close the border with Mexico would have never succeeded, but now that the outbreak is getting worse south of the border Trump’s wish may just come true.
Immigration ban to be extended
On Thursday four Republican senators were pressuring the US President to further restrict work visas due to coronavirus job losses, arguing that foreign students and specialised workers take jobs away from Americans.
Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, Charles Grassley of Iowa, and Josh Hawley of Missouri submitted a letter urging the suspension of all new guest worker visas for 60 days, as well as the suspension of other guest worker visas for at least a year.