White House prepares new immigration restrictions due to coronavirus: what you need to know

The administration of US President Donald trump is preparing to introduce another set of restrictions on legal immigration, citing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, even despite the need to resume the US economy. Writes about it CNN.

Despite President Donald Trump's efforts to overcome the pandemic, the administration continues to take steps to reduce immigration, citing the outbreak and its effects on the economy.

One of the key figures behind the desire to limit immigration is Stephen Miller, Trump's leading immigration adviser and developer of the presidential immigration program. In April, Trump signed a decree banning US immigration. Trump argued that an order was needed to protect American jobs.

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, the administration has taken a number of immigration measures. Among these changes is the closure of the southern border to immigrants, including those seeking asylum, if certain conditions are not met.

Following the President’s order in April, Miller called the move the first step in reducing the flow of immigrants arriving in the United States. In this statement, the deadlines for the order were set, and they are already approaching, but the opportunity was also left for their extension or change.

Interested groups, businesses, and experts are struggling with any new restrictions, stating that visas that allow immigrants to work temporarily in the United States are critical to the country's economy.

"Why does he want to cut off a critical workforce that will help the economy recover?" Said Greg Chen, director of government affairs at the American Immigration Bar Association.

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“This is not a rational or sensible approach, it only indicates the main goal of achieving the goals of the presidential campaign to end immigration,” Chen added.

Trump promised that the order “will ensure that unemployed Americans of any origin are first in line for jobs as our economy opens.”

Trump's political advisers see immigration moves as motivation for their supporters at a time when the president's key campaign message - a strong economy - is severely weakened by the pandemic.

Legal immigration, which has already suffered during the outbreak, is again in the spotlight.

The issue of suspension of a visa allowing immigrants to temporarily work in the USA for some time is being considered, including L-1 visas for intra-company transfers, H-1B for workers in their specialty, H-2B for temporary work, non-farm workers and J- visas 1.

According to sources, it is expected that exceptions will be made for workers associated with Covid-19, such as medical workers and jobs related to food supplies.

In recent weeks, businesses and industry groups have raised concerns, emphasizing the importance of a highly skilled workforce for the US economy.

The Industry and Commerce Association (ITI) wrote to Trump, arguing that non-immigrant visas are key to sustaining the economy in a global public health crisis.

ITI is supported by companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Oracle.

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“Limiting our human capital can have unintended consequences and could create significant economic uncertainty if we have to recalibrate our staff based on country of birth,” says the letter, signed by hundreds of employers, trade, industry and higher education institutions. The signatories included Facebook, Twitter, Google, Lyft and others.

Visas are “a critical safety valve for companies to meet seasonal labor needs” when there are no American workers to fill short-term jobs.

“There are employers, there are trade associations that constantly talk to the administration and Congress about the value of these programs,” said Gregg Hartley, co-chair of the H2-B workforce coalition.

But just as businesses and industry groups have contributed, so too, advocates of reduced immigration, say change is needed to protect American workers.

“We provide information, and most importantly, our members are in the same position,” said Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, a group advocating for the reduction of immigration.

Republican Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Chuck Grassley and Josh Hawley also sent Trump a letter urging him to suspend new work visas for 60 days, as well as "certain categories of" work visas "at least until next year, or until unemployment return to normal ”to protect American workers.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• April 22, US President Donald Trump signed a decree restricting immigration to the country. It will be valid for 60 days, and then can be withdrawn or extended.