Coronavirus Update: Bay Area Immigration Rights Advocates Rip President Trump's Border Shutdown Plans
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- President Donald Trump announced plans Monday evening to temporarily suspend immigration into the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic with an executive order.
Trump announced his intentions on Twitter:
"In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!"
The president did not provide detailed information on how he will execute this plan, or how long the suspension could last. Immigrant advocates called the announcement another blow to communities already struggling before the pandemic.
"We receive this news with grave concern, we believe this is just going to add more complications to the already complicated and devastating humanitarian crisis we have been experiencing here on the U.S.-Mexico border," said Alma Maquitico.
Maquitico is co-director of the Oakland-based National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
"The border was already closed to many asylum seekers, many people who had legitimate claims to ask for asylum or to ask for refugee status," she added.
Because of the coronavirus, immigration to the US has largely slowed. Citizenship ceremonies aren't happening and many visa offices are closed.
"That's another part of the reason why I think we would expect to see a lot of challenges and a lot of legal challenges if not questions from the rest of this country who aren't necessarily going to be supportive of the process," said legal analyst Paul Henderson.
