The President said Tuesday his new U.S. immigration ban would be temporary. It applies to those seeking “green cards” for permanent residency. It is an effort to protect Americans seeking to regain jobs lost because of the coronavirus.
The executive order
Trump plans to institute the ban through an executive order. He said he was likely to sign today. It does not apply to individuals entering the United States on a temporary basis. It faces re-evaluation at the end of the 60-day period. Immigration is effectively cut off at the moment. This is being done through border restrictions and flight bans put in place to stop the virus’s spread.
“It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker,” Trump said. He continues there are some exemptions in the order and he can renew it. It seems if renewed it would be for another 60 days or perhaps longer.
The order will, as it always does, spark legal action by the Leftist resistance afflicted with TDS. A senior administration official said Trump is looking at another separate action. That one would cover others affected by U.S. immigration policy, including those on so-called H-1B visas. The order would include exemptions for people involved in responding to the coronavirus outbreak, including farmworkers and those helping to secure U.S. food supplies.
The official said as the country begins to open up its economy, immigration flows will increase. The administration wants to ensure employers rehire fired workers. The intention is to preclude giving jobs to immigrants at lower wages. Trump confirmed that a second order was under consideration for a separate time.
Potential impact and criticism
The U.S. Department of State issued roughly 462,000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019, which began on Oct. 1, 2018. The visas allow an immigrant to obtain lawful permanent resident status, known as a green card. The status allows a person to live and work in the United States and apply for citizenship after five years.
Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress (CAP) said, “…I think this is a malevolent distraction…” CAP is a hard-Left policy institute in the District of Columbia for which George Soros is paying. Immigration advocates scoff at the assertion cutting off immigration protects Americans’ health.
H-1B
Under the separate immigration action, technology industry workers with H-1B visas may need to provide updated certifications to the government that they are not displacing American workers. That was one of a handful of proposals under consideration.
Critics of the visas say staffing firms monopolize them to bring in workers to displace Americans. The jobs are often in back-office technical jobs. But the visas are also in use by healthcare, education, and other businesses recruiting workers. Generally, those workers have bachelor’s or higher degrees.
The Trump campaign plans to highlight immigration again in the 2020 election battle. The coronavirus outbreak has dramatically altered the priorities of many Americans. According to the Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll conducted April 15-21, the economy has replaced immigration as the most cited Republican concern.