Don’t stop immigration, expand visas for healthcare workers

President Trump has signed an executive order halting legal immigration to the United States for 60 days. He claims the order will help protect us from the COVID-19 virus pandemic and protect the jobs of U.S. workers. He’s wrong on both counts.

Immigration had already nearly ground to a halt because of earlier actions Trump had taken. The admission of refugees was halted on March 19. Few visas for would-be immigrants have been processed since March 20, when the State Department canceled most appointments for foreigners at U.S. consulates and embassies. With international flights curtailed and the Canadian and Mexican borders closed, there were already few ways for immigrants to enter the country.