President Trump announced late Monday he will soon sign an executive order "to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States" in an escalation of his efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic and boost the economy.
The President Tweeted:
In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!
The precise contours of the president's planned executive order were not immediately clear. The U.S. recently agreed with both Canada and Mexico to extend border restrictions on nonessential travel for another 30 days, through May 16 and May 19, respectively. And, the president already has blocked most travel from other hotspots, including most of Europe, Iran, South Korea, and China. However, people with temporary work visas, students and business travelers were exempted, along with emergency personnel.
On Monday, the U.S. government said it will continue to quickly expel migrants it encounters along the border with Mexico for at least another month in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Under the U.S. policy change spurred by the virus, the U.S. government has repatriated some 10,000 Mexicans and Central Americans back to Mexico, according to data from the U.S.Border Patrol.
On Jan. 31 Trump issued the "Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus," blocking most travel from China -- and at the time, Democrats harshly criticized the move, it is to be expected that such criticism, and eventual lawsuits, will be abundant when it comes to this decision.
This article was originally published by FOX News.
