Trump Orders Temporarily Halt Immigration to Protect “Americans” amid Covid-19 Pandemic

The United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to  temporarily suspend immigration entering the U.S. and halt the issuance of green cards on some foreigners from permanent residence as a measures to preserve American workers and jobs during the coronavirus outbreak.

“In order to protect our great American workers I have just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens,” He said on his daily briefing Wednesday.

This order will last for 60 days and then will be reviewed and possible to escalate. 

Trump’s order could block more than 20,000 people per month from obtaining a green card of permanent residence, based on an analysis by the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute, according to Reuters.

On Tuesday, Trump said that the move would not impact those in the country on a temporary basis and would apply only to those looking for green cards in hopes of staying.