President Trump to Sign Executive Order Temporarily Barring Green Card Applicants from Coming to the United States

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as Wednesday, April 22, 2020 temporarily barring permanent resident (green card) applicants from immigrating to the United States. The ban is scheduled to remain in effect for 60 days and will be reevaluated after that point. The President framed the policy as a means of protecting American jobs in a period of high unemployment.

It remains unclear whether the order will encompass both family-based and employment-based green card applicants, or whether any categories of green card seekers will be exempt. Temporary workers, students, and tourists reportedly will not be subject to the ban. We anticipate that the executive order will be subject to litigation.

We will provide updates as soon as further information becomes available.