UPDATE APRIL 23, 2020: President Trump signed a proclamation on suspending entry of immigrants to the US for 60 days.

President Trump announced late Monday night in a tweet that he plans to temporarily “suspend immigration” to the United States, a move he said is needed to protect American jobs and prevent the further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), which he called “the Invisible Enemy.” White House officials reported that they are drafting an executive order that Trump could sign as early as today. At this time, it is unclear what exactly such an executive order would accomplish. Last month, the State Department canceled most routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments at US Embassies/Consulates abroad, effectively shutting down nearly all kinds of new travel to the US for nonimmigrants and immigrants. The US has also already enacted restrictions on international travel from Europe, China, and other countries affected by COVID-19, and has placed strict controls at the country’s land borders.

The State Department also stopped all processing for refugee resettlement, while citizenship ceremonies have been suspended as well as in-person services by US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). It is unclear if the order will simply extend these policies already in effect or if it will go further to suspend Green Card and visa petitions filed by employers. Once the order is issued, we would expect to have a clearer idea of what to expect. We will publish additional updates on the executive order as soon as we receive them.

UPDATE APRIL 22, 2020: Yesterday, President Trump provided some additional details about his proposed immigration ban. He indicated that foreign nationals would not be able to file immigrant visa applications for sixty days. Those with nonimmigrant visas (like O-1, H-1B, TN, E-3, P-1, J-1, F-1, etc.) would not be affected by the restrictions. Since the president has not signed the final order yet, some of this may change but we will continue to update this page as we receive guidance and information.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new short documentary, titled USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island, about the history of Ellis Island as an immigrant processing station. The video tells the story of the federal immigration service on Ellis Island and its employees who processed over twelve million immigrants from 1892 to 1954. Featuring interviews from historians, National Park Service rangers, and an archived interview from a worker at this iconic immigration station, the documentary tells the story of Ellis Island from the perspective of those who worked there. “USCIS holds a distinctive place in history for its role in processing immigrants into the fabric of our nation,” USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna said at the premiere to agency employees. “It remains an undisputable fact that America is a nation of immigrants. As employees, we all have an essential duty in honoring and preserving that legacy.”