Coronavirus Immigration Ban: Trump Restricts Green Cards, Hints At Further Restrictions

After suggesting plans to ban immigration during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, President Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. would halt green cards for at least two months. While not yet a complete ban, Trump also hinted that further restrictions could be on the way.

“By pausing immigration, we'll help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced by new immigrant labor flown in from abroad,” Trump said at a press briefing. “We must first take care of the American worker.”

Trump said later that this order would be signed into effect on Wednesday.

Possible exemptions might also be detailed soon. A draft of the order obtained by Bloomberg stated that exemptions would be made for those seeking to work in fields related to food production and supply.

Trump retains the option to extend the order after two months if the economy has not recovered sufficiently. He also made comments suggesting the additional restrictions could be implemented later if he so desires.

“We have a secondary order that, if I want to do that, we’ll make that determination,” Trump added.

The move will not impact foreign workers coming to the U.S. on a temporary basis. An administration official speaking with CNN said that the temporary visa system was too complicated to address at this time and would affect many people currently working in frontline fields dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

This order runs counter to comments made in February by the acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney at a private event, where he claimed that the U.S. was “desperate” for legal immigrants.

“We are desperate – desperate – for more people,” Mulvaney said. “We are running out of people to fuel the economic growth that we've had in our nation over the last four years. We need more immigrants.”