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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 22 april 2020
Trump vows to ‘suspend immigration’ to US because of virus

Continued from Front cing dictates and stay-at- in early April. Sarah Pierce, nomic toll and said “the in the country illegally wit-
home orders. Trump has of- a policy analyst at the Mi- president’s looking out for hout those people being
Criticism of Trump’s new ten pivoted to his signature gration Policy Institute, said Americans on both fronts subject to protections af-
announcement was swift, issue of immigration when Trump could end the pro- at every turn.” forded under immigration
especially the timing du- he’s under criticism. It’s an cessing of immigrant and Trump, in response to ac- laws. On Monday, the U.S.
ring the pandemic. Ali issue he believes helped non-immigrant visa appli- cusations that he has extended that authority to
Noorani, president of the him win the 2016 election cations under the same failed to act quickly in res- May 20 and many expect
National Immigration Fo- and one that continues legal authority he used to ponse to the virus, has fre- the asylum shutdown will
rum, noted that thousands to animate his loyal base impose the travel ban that quently pointed to his de- stay in effect through the
of foreign-born health care of supporters heading into was upheld by the Supre- cision to limit travel to the end of Trump’s term in Ja-
workers are currently trea- what is expected to be a me Court. But that would U.S. from China and hard- nuary.
ting people with COVID-19 brutal reelection fight. have little practical effect, hit European countries. But U.S. borders with Mexico
and working in critical sec- In a statement, White she said, because the Sta- he has not extended the and Canada have also
tors of the economy. House press secretary te Department has largely restrictions to other nati- been closed to tourism
“The fact is that immigrants Kayleigh McEnany descri- stopped processing visas ons now experiencing virus and recreational travel.
are standing shoulder-to- bed the order as aimed anyway. outbreaks. Commercial traffic and a
shoulder with U.S. citizens at protecting both the Kevin Hassett, the former The U.S. is now reporting wide range of “essential”
on the front lines helping “health and economic White House economic more COVID-19 cases than workers are still allowed to
us get through this pande- well-being of American ci- adviser who recently re- any other country in the travel freely.
mic,” he said. tizens as we face unprece- turned to help guide the world, with almost 800,000 The H-2B visa program is
Andrea Flores of the Ame- dented times.” “At a time response to the virus, said Americans infected, ac- used by U.S. companies
rican Civil Liberties Union when Americans are look- there would be “carve cording to figures com- to fill tens of thousands of
said, “Unfortunately, Pre- ing to get back to work, outs” for certain types of piled by Johns Hopkins Uni- seasonal jobs in areas like
sident Trump seems more action is necessary,” she workers. versity. More than 42,000 landscaping, seafood pro-
interested in fanning anti- said. National security adviser have died. cessing and in service jobs
immigrant flames than in Though travel restrictions Robert O’Brien compa- Given the steps Trump has at hotels and theme parks.
saving lives.” around the globe have red the expected order to already taken, Mexico Fo- In March, amid pressure by
But Jessica Vaughn, di- dramatically reduced im- restrictions on travel to the reign Relations Secretary Congress and a tight job
rector of policy studies at migration, Trump could U.S. from China that Trump Marcelo Ebrard said it was market, the administration
the Center for Immigration use his executive authority put in place in January. unclear what more he raised the annual quota
Studies, which favors lower to restrict it further, inclu- “We’re trying to do every- could do. to its highest level under
rates of immigration, said ding slashing the number thing, the president’s trying Last month, the admini- Trump. That move ange-
that eliminating millions of foreign workers allowed to do everything he can to stration effectively ended red people who favor
of work permits and visas to take seasonal jobs in the put the health of the Ame- asylum, relying on a rarely more restrictive immigrati-
would “instantaneously U.S. Before the outbreak, rican people first during used 1944 law aimed at on policies, including some
create” new jobs for Ame- the administration had this crisis,” O’Brien said on preventing the spread of supporters of the president
ricans and other legal wor- planned to increase the Fox News Channel. communicable disease. who view foreign workers
kers — even though most number of H-2B visas, but Asked about Trump’s re- That action allowed Bor- willing to accept lower wa-
businesses are shuttered the Department of Home- ference to jobs, O’Brien der Patrol agents to im- ges as unfair competition
because of social distan- land Security put that old referenced the virus’ eco- mediately expel people to American labor. q

Missouri sues China over coronavirus pandemic

By SUMMER BALLENTINE law expert at the University
Associated Press of Virginia School of Law.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Democratic Party
state of Missouri filed a law- Executive Director Lauren
suit Tuesday against the Gepford called the lawsuit
Chinese government over a "stunt" by a Republican
the coronavirus, alleging attorney general who is up
that nation's officials are to for re-election this year.
blame for the global pan- The number of Missouri
demic. deaths statewide rose by
The lawsuit, filed in fed- 16 Tuesday to 215, accord-
eral court by the state's ing to Johns Hopkins Uni-
top prosecutor, alleges versity's Center for Systems
Chinese officials are "re- Science and Engineering.
sponsible for the enormous The number of cases rose
death, suffering, and eco- by 156 to 5,963.
nomic losses they inflicted For most people, the coro-
on the world, including Mis- navirus causes mild or mod-
sourians." erate symptoms, such as
"The Chinese government fever and cough that clear
lied to the world about the up in two to three weeks.
danger and contagious In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks in front of the U.S. For some, especially older
nature of COVID-19, si- Supreme Court in Washington. Schmitt on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. adults and people with
lenced whistleblowers, and Associated Press. existing health problems, it
did little to stop the spread a written statement. "They Lawsuits against other erally prohibits them with can cause more severe ill-
of the disease," Attorney must be held accountable countries are typically fruit- rare exceptions, said Ash- ness, including pneumonia,
General Eric Schmitt said in for their actions." less because U.S. law gen- ley Deeks, an international and death.q