An Expanded and More Permanent Ban on Immigration Threatens Our Values and Compromises Our Future

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration today announced a more permanent order that suspends many categories of immigration to the United States and an expanded ban that halts many legal employment-based immigration categories for those outside of the United States. What was characterized as a 2-month ban is now extended through the end of the year. This ban will continue to have a devastating impact on family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the United States and shut down the diversity visa program.

The expanded ban will impact highly-educated individuals outside the United States seeking to enter on H-1B visas, L-1 visas for intracompany transfers, as well as certain H-2B temporary seasonal workers and most J-1 exchange visitor participants. Spouses and children of these visa holders are also prohibited under this new proclamation.

The following statement is from Beth Werlin, executive director of the American Immigration Council:

“The Trump administration’s latest travel ban targeting people who come to the United States as temporary workers, students, and visitors who participate in international exchange programs is a thinly-veiled attempt to radically shift immigration policy by proclamation. This is not about public health or the economy. Many of the people the administration is banning are family members of those on the front lines combating the virus. While President Trump says he wishes to reignite our economy, this ban will prevent businesses and universities from filling critical gaps.

“As a J-1 sponsor, the American Immigration Council can attest to the value of the Exchange program in allowing talented people to travel to the United States temporarily to learn about our culture while contributing to and learning inside of American institutions. The Exchange program has been a hallmark of American diplomacy for a generation.

“The ban is a threat to our American tradition of immigration. We must stand united in opposition to the president’s latest action to advance his well-documented anti-immigration agenda.”

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For more information, contact:

Maria Frausto at the American Immigration Council, [email protected] or 202-507-7526.