By: Perry & Alznauer, PC
Last Wednesday, President Trump fulfilled his tweet to issue an executive order pausing immigration into the United States in order to protect “American workers during the coronavirus pandemic”.
Here is a bullet point summary of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order.
President Trump’s Proclamation suspended entry of the following foreign nationals:
1) Those who are outside the United States as of April 23, 2020 11:59 pm
2) Those who do not have a valid immigrant visa on the effective date
3) Those who do not have an official valid travel document, other than visa.
This section broadly states that aliens entering the United States as “immigrants” is suspended. This means people seeking to come in as permanent residents, those under non-immigrant categories and other categories of entrants are not covered.
The suspension and limitation on entry shall not apply to:
1) Any lawful permanent resident/s (green card holders)
2) People seeking to enter the US on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional, to perform medical research intended to combat the spread of COVID, or to perform work essential to combating recovering from or alleviating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, as determined by DOS or DHS.
3) EB-5 Immigrant Investors
4) Spouses of US citizens
5) Children under 21 of US citizens or prospective adoptees
6) People who further important US law enforcement objectives, as determined by DOS or DHS, potentially including EB-2 national waiver recipients.
7) Members of the US Armed Forces or their spouses and children
8) Special Immigrants (including Iraqi and Afghani translators and religious workers)
The consular officer will make the determinations on limitations. DOS and DHS may come up with procedures the carry out the process.
