SAN DIEGO – President Donald Trump on Thursday extended epidemiological restrictions on greencards and extended work visas to large groups of applicants until March 31, when the Federal Court of Appeals complied with its rule requiring new immigrants to have their own health insurance.
The two developments that took place on the last day of 2020 made it clear how Trump has made U.S. immigration policy more restrictive without congressional support. President-elect Joe Biden has promised to undo many of Trump’s actions but it is unclear how quickly and to what extent.
Federal judges have limited the impact of the epidemic-related visa ban, which was due to expire on Thursday. Jan 20 Biden, who is forced to decide when and where to pick him up after taking office, does not address the issue, especially in his immigration platform.
Biden also does not directly address the need for health-insurance in his platform and a lawyer claiming the policy on Thursday urged him to vacate it immediately.
In April, Trump banned green cards issued abroad that mostly target family members of people already in the United States. After a surprisingly cold reception from immigration bosses, the administration went a long way in adding H-1B visas in June, which are widely used by American and Indian technology company workers and their families; H-2B visas for non-cultural seasonal workers; J-1 visa for cultural exchange; And L-1 visas for managers and other key employees of multinational corporations.
Trump said the measures would protect American jobs in an epidemic-ridden economy, while business groups said they would hinder recovery.
“The effects of COVID-19 on the health of the United States labor market and American communities are a current national concern,” Trump’s announcement read, highlighting the growing number of lawsuits in the case and in states.
In contrast, the administration’s order to immediately expel asylum seekers and others who crossed the border illegally from Mexico was justified on the grounds that they contained coronavirus, although the Associated Press and others found no evidence for it. A temporary ban on non-essential travel across the Mexican and Canadian borders was also imposed for public health.
In October, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that work-visa bans could not be imposed on groups and their members representing the vast majority of the U.S. economy. Chamber of Commerce for Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, Technol Industry G Industry Group Technet and Intrax Inc., which conducts cultural exchange programs.
In December, a federal judge in Auckland, California, stopped the greencard ban from affecting 181 U.S. citizens and the families of the plaintiffs’ legal residents.
In its ruling, issued Thursday, the 9th Circuit Court App Pills panel voted 2-1 to clear the way for Trump to require immigrants to have health insurance. New migrants must show that they can get coverage within 30 days and pay their medical expenses. A federal judge blocked the rule from being implemented immediately after it was announced in October-October 2019.
Trump-appointed Judge Daniel P. Collins wrote that the president acted within his authority, relying primarily on the Supreme Court ruling, in which many supported Trump’s travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries. He was accompanied by Judge Jay Byby, who was appointed by President George W. Bush. Was made by Bush.
Judge A. appointed by President Bill Clinton. Wallace Tashima called the policy “a major reversal of the nation’s immigration laws without congressional input – a vague and unprecedented exercise of unilateral executive power.”
Judge Action Center lawyer Esther Sung, an advocacy group that claimed to have blocked the rule, said she was disappointed.
He said the ruling made it clear that the Biden administration must act quickly to overturn all of President Trump’s xenophobic presidential declarations, including the health care ban.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
