President Biden has terminated a Trump policy, intended to protect jobs, that barred certain forms of legal immigration during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Biden revoked Proclamation 10014, which prevented certain immigrants “who present risk to the U.S. labor market” from entering the country amid the rampant surge in COVID-19 cases and the economic problems that came with it. The Democrat said the policy “does not advance the interests of the United States,” adding that it “harms” the nation “by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here.”
Former President Donald Trump enacted the order in late April, renewed it in June, and then again on Jan. 1, weeks before Biden’s inauguration.
“On Wednesday, April 22, President Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry into the United States of certain immigrants who present risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak,” the provision read. “The proclamation was effective at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 23. It was continued by President Trump on June 23, and will expire on December 31, 2020, unless continued.”
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“U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation. The Proclamation is not retroactive. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation.”
Exceptions were granted for healthcare professionals, immigrants with EB-5 investor visas, spouses, children, U.S. citizens, and members of the armed forces, among other groups.
Prominent technology companies spoke out against the proclamation and said the restrictions were deleterious to efforts to bring high-skilled labor from overseas.
“America’s continued success depends on companies having access to the best talent from around the world. Particularly now, we need that talent to help contribute to America’s economic recovery,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said in September.
Biden said the order “harmed” U.S. industries “that utilize talent from around the world.”
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“It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world,” he said. “And it harms individuals who were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for, and those who have likewise received, immigrant visas through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery. Proclamation 10014 has prevented these individuals from entering the United States, resulting, in some cases, in the delay and possible forfeiture of their opportunity to receive Fiscal Year 2020 diversity visas and to realize their dreams in the United States.”
