President Trump issued today a proclamation “Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak.”
This proclamation is effective at 11:59 pm (ET) on April 23, 2020. The proclamation will expire 60 days from its effective date and may be continued.
Per the proclamation, the suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 1 of this proclamation applies to individuals who are green card “applicants” and who:
- are outside the United States on the effective date of this proclamation;
- do not have an immigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation; and
- do not have an official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.
The proclamation includes several exemptions:
- spouses and minor children of American citizens;
- health care workers (eg. doctors, nurses);
- EB5 foreign investors;
- people with already-approved valid green cards.
According to President Trump, the Executive Order is purportedly aimed to protect U.S. workers who lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and the restrictions could later be amended or extended if necessary.
