In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic crisis, on April 22, 2020, President Donald Trump announced his “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 applies to intending immigrants who are outside the United States and have no immigrant visa or travel document that would permit entry into the U.S. Although this might seem daunting, the impact is minimal because U.S. embassies and consulates have already suspended visa services.
The Proclamation specifically excludes the following foreign nationals:
- Lawful Permanent Residents (see footnote below)
- Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers (including their spouses and minor aged children) who will enter as an immigrant to work in the COVID-19 arena
- Entrepreneurial investors (EB-5 immigrants)
- Spouses and minor aged children of U.S. citizens
- Immigrants whose entry furthers certain law enforcement objectives
- Members of the Armed Forces and their spouse and minor aged children
- Certain “Special Immigrants”
- Immigrants whose admission would be in our national interest
Thus, with this list of exclusions, the suspension of immigrant visas is very limited in scope. It applies temporarily to family preference immigrants, parents of U.S. citizens, and most intending immigrant workers who are not in the healthcare industry or in the national interest. While these individuals are important and vital, the President’s suspension appears more of a deflection from the Covid-19 crisis than a limitation on immigration.
The Proclamation does indicate the Administration will consider suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as H-1Bs and L-1s. For sure, suspension of non-immigrant workers could have a grave effect on us as we dig our way out of the fallen economy. We need non-immigrant workers, such as IT specialists, international managers, biomedical researchers, and essential skills workers, to help get the wheels of our economy rolling again.
Check our website for updates as this issue develops further.