The pandemic forced the government to take emergency measures

The restrictions on immigration policies have been considerably increased due to the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in the North American territory.

It is essential to clarify that the current government of the US, led by President Trump, is part of the Republican party and has tried to reduce immigration since 2017.

Therefore, with the arrival of the global pandemic, the Trump government has adjusted immigration policies, preventing the entry of thousands of immigrants to the country and delaying processes.

Let’s look at some of the emergency measures that the current administration has put in place in recent months:

1. Asylum applications and hearings are temporarily suspended until July 20, 2020.
2. The issuance of work visas for skilled foreign workers is banned until the end of the year.
   This measure has some exceptions. For instance, foreigners who are essential to the US food supply chain may continue to receive work permits.
3. Green Card applications are not currently available. This measure will be active until the end of the year according to the latest official proclamation of Trump’s government.
4. The offices of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) suspended face-to-face services for more than two months and reopened on June 4, 2020, which delayed pending cases.
5. Deportation protocols are not currently fully followed. This means that express deportations are allowed during the health crisis, including minors.

If you need help with an Immigration Case, feel free to contact Motion Law Immigration.

The arguments of Trump’s government

The current administration of the US ensures that these measures help the country to overcome the current crisis for several reasons.

Let’s see some of them:

1. Temporarily banning the entry of asylum seekers into the US prevents the health system from a possible saturation. It also helps ensure that only legal citizens receive the country’s social benefits during the health crisis (for example: the “Stimulus Checks” or unemployment aid).
2. According to Trump government’s opinion, foreign workers reduce employment opportunities for the local population, increasing the unemployment rate and affecting American families.
   Therefore, the president assures that temporarily banning the entry of foreign workers will allow legal citizens to fill available job positions, at least until the economic situation improves.
3. The Green Card is the legal permanent residence in the US. When an immigrant gets a Green Card, (s)he is considered a legal citizen and can apply to social benefits offered by the government.
   Therefore, the Trump administration considers that granting Green Cards during the health crisis could be unfair to the local population since immigrants would use social benefits and fill job positions.
4. The Trump administration argues that closing the USCIS offices was a necessary prevention to protect the health of employees and prevent a massive outbreak of Coronavirus in USCIS facilities.
   However, this measure significantly delayed immigration processes and USCIS is experiencing a downturn in revenue due to this initiative.
5. President Trump argues that express deportations during the health crisis prevent immigration detention centers from overcrowding.

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What can we do with recent changes in immigration policies?

It is imperative to keep in mind that all changes in immigration policies have a positive side as well.

This is a crucial time that you can use to prepare your immigration case correctly and seek experts’ help to be able to find the solution that best suits your needs.

In addition to that, there are a wide variety of ways you can apply for legal residence in the US. That is why, current changes in immigration policies should not, under any circumstances, prevent you from pursuing your dream of building a promising future in the US.

We are here to help you!

At Motion Law Immigration we are ready to guide you to complete immigration process. We are also up to date with recent changes in immigration policies and that is the reason why we know the best alternatives for you.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.