Immigration to US to be suspended amid coronavirus

President Donald Trump proclaimed that he would order a temporary suspension of immigration into the US. The President of the United States initially announced the new measure with a tweet that caused confusion on the night of April 20, referring to the COVID-19 as the “Invisible Enemy”: “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to suspend immigration into the United States temporarily!” he wrote on social media.

One day later, during a press briefing on April 21, Trump clarified the measure, explaining that the order would last 60 days and it would only apply to people seeking permanent residency or green card, the permanent resident card that allows foreigners to live and work permanently in the United States. Alone last year, there were about a million people who were granted green cards.

“By pausing immigration we’ll help put Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens,” he said during the press conference. He added that he would be “unjust” if the laid-off would be replaced “by new immigrant labour flown in from abroad.” Over 22 million people lost their jobs in the US in recent weeks due to the pandemic.