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Proclamation Sows Fear and Division
Posted on Apr 23 2020
April 23, 2020—The April 22 Proclamation suspending some immigration for 60 days uses a familiar tactic of scapegoating immigrants to distract attention this administration’s failures during the pandemic. Blame and division do nothing to keep anyone safe or protect jobs. Instead, this order spreads fear in immigrant communities and separates more families, many of whom have already waited years for visas.
The Executive Order stops individuals from entering the United States as immigrants if they are:
- Outside the United States on the effective date.
- Do not have an immigrant visa that is valid on the effective date.
- Do not have a travel document other than a visa (such as advance parole) that is valid on the effective date or after that permits entry to the United States.
Among those barred from obtaining immigrant visas by the order are parents and adult children of U.S. citizens and all family members of lawful permanent residents.
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who are outside the United States are not covered by this order. Immigrants who are already in the United States are not covered by this order. Non-immigrants, such as tourists or temporary workers, are not covered by this order.
Because all U.S. consulates are now closed for routine visa processing, even people who are not covered by the order have no way to get visas.
The order sets out a number of exceptions to the bar on immigrant visas, including
- Spouses and unmarried minor children of U.S. citizens,
- Members of the U.S. military and their spouses and children,
- Health care professionals and people entering the United States to perform research to combat the spread of COVID-19,
- Special immigrants who were translators or interpreters for the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan, and
- Investors applying under the EB-5 program.
This Executive Order also says it does not apply to people seeking asylum or refugee status, but previous orders already turn back asylum seekers at the border.
The Proclamation is in place for 60 days, beginning on April 23, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., but it may be modified or extended. The Proclamation orders several federal departments to assess within 30 days whether restrictions should also be placed on nonimmigrant visas.
For further information, ILCM has created and posted on our website a Fact Sheet: April 22, 2020 Proclamation Suspending Immigration and Frequently Asked Questions: April 22, 2020 Proclamation Suspending Immigration.
In the face of the pandemic threat, we need unity, not division. Racism and xenophobia have no place in this battle for the health and lives of our community.