Trump suspends immigration to the US 3
`In light of the attack from the invisible enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our exceptional American citizens, I will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration to the United States,
Trump said he took the above action to protect the American workforce.
The White House declined to provide further details on the reasons behind the President’s decision, when it was applied, and its legal basis.
US President Trump pointed to a reporter during a press conference at the White House on Covid-19 on April 20.
In 2016, Trump was elected to the White House with a promise to limit immigration by building a wall on the US border with Mexico.
The US is currently the largest epidemic region in the world with more than 780,000 cases of infection, including nearly 42,000 deaths.
Due to Covid-19, immigration activities in the US are almost paused, visa offices are largely closed, and citizenship ceremonies are not held.
Trump’s move quickly attracted criticism from Democrats.
`You stop immigration, you say our nation has weakened economically. A stupid move,` former presidential candidate Julian Castro commented on Twitter.
However, Thomas Homan, former acting director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said that this is an action to protect opportunities for the US workforce amid the pandemic.
`It’s really not about immigration. It’s about the pandemic and keeping our nation safer while protecting opportunity for unemployed Americans,` Homan said.
The US mid-last month suspended all regular visa activities, for both immigrants and non-immigrants, to most countries around the world due to Covid-19, a move that is likely to affect thousands of countries.
US delegations continue to issue emergency visas and a US State Department official said at the end of March that the country is ready to work with cases determined to be eligible for visas, including visas.
