Trump leaves big gaps in Green Card ban to serve US national interests

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending green cards to “immigrants who present risk to the American labor market during the economic recovery” from the Covid-19 outbreak even as US jobless claims ticked past 26 million (2.6 crores), with 4.4 million new filings during the past week.

Although the Presidential order is largely aimed at restricting to prospective economic immigrants into the country, there are a number of exceptions and cutouts that make it less disruptive than was first envisaged when Trump tweeted that he would temporarily suspend immigration to the United States. The freeze will not affect those considered vital to US national interests, including doctors, nurses, researches and healthcare professionals (and their spouses and children) important to the fight against the pandemic, or wealthy aliens applying for entry under EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. It also does not affect lawful permanent residents already in the U.S or any alien who is the spouse of a US citizen or a prospective adoptee.

However, by indicating he could extend the suspension at the end of 60 days if the economic recovery is still unsatisfactory, the US President has calmed his nativist base that has been pressing for a blanket ban on immigration. For now, Trump said, “this (executive order) w