In-person immigration processing had already been suspended owing to the virus, following the closure of consulates and United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) processing centers. However, the suspension of processing, which has been in place for several weeks, differs from the hold on green card applications that has just been announced by the President, in that it’s a cessation based on policy desires and not pandemic-related closures. In the former case, those waiting for new visas and those whose H-1B visas were running out were given a 60 day period in which to file their claims. During that time, they could remain in the country. It now seems those temporary residents may not be affected immediately by the executive order. However, many of those visa holders would have been waiting to convert their status to permanent residency; the typical H1-B or O visa-holder who applies for a green card is very likely to be a skilled or talented professional who has lived and worked in the US for several years. With the President’s announcement, those applicants for new visas will be thrown into chaos and may well have to leave.

In a statement following the President’s Monday tweet, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany stated that the move was made to protect “the health and economic well-being of Americans,” a veiled but transparent reference to the virus — though the United States has the highest number of cases globally. Her statement said further: “Decades of record immigration had produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-American and Latino workers.”