WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A plan by President Donald Trump to temporarily block some foreigners from permanent residence in the United States is still undergoing legal review, which could delay its signing, according to White House aides on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Trump says the order, which could affect thousands of people hoping to settle in the United States, will protect American workers during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters the review could potentially delay a planned signing on Wednesday. “It has to be cleared legally,” Conway told reporters. “I know he’s itching to sign it, but it’s a matter of when it’s ready,” she said.
Trump, a Republican, won the White House in 2016 in part on a promise to crack down on immigration and has made the issue central to his presidency. But many of his major moves trying to curb immigration have been challenged in court and legal experts said this executive order could also face lawsuits.
Many key details of Trump’s planned executive order are still not known, but one U.S. Department of Homeland Security official who requested anonymity said it would only apply to people applying for permanent residence from outside the United States, not those already in the country seeking to adjust their status.
Trump said the order init