The Covid-19 pandemic and immigration policy have become entangled. The pandemic makes life harder on immigrants. It’s also inflamed the debate. Indeed, the tug-of-war over immigration seems to be the one facet of American life that hasn’t ground to a complete halt.

Here are four news items worth paying attention to.

The 60-Day Ban on Green Cards

Republicans claim they’re only against legal immigration, but that’s exactly what Trump decided to ban, as if shutting down the green card process would somehow stop the spread of the virus. Except most of the people waiting for green cards are already here. 

The “ban” didn’t stop EB-5 visas, allowing wealthy immigrants to buy their way to a green card by investing (though if you’re interested in pursuing this type of visa you’ll still need legal help). It also didn’t stop work visas for temporary farm workers and other low-paid immigrant labor.

Speculations on motives vary, from trying to preserve cheap labor for business owners while simultaneously preventing new immigrant voters to the move being a simple distraction from his failures during the pandemic. 

This week a federal judge in Oregon upheld the sixty day ban on procedural grounds.

Senator David Perdue Introduces a Bill to Ease the Immigration Path for Medical Personnel 

If you’re a doctor or a nurse you may soon have an easier time coming to America. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) is planning to introduce bipartisan legislation that would reallocate 25,000 unused immigrant visas for nurses and 15,000 for doctors. It would also instruct the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to expedite processing for these visas. 

Employers would have to attest that hiring the immigrant employee would not displace an American born doctor or nurse.

The bill won’t be introduced until the Senate reconvenes, but it’s a bill to watch closely.

MALDEF Sues Over Lost Stimulus Checks

American citizens married to undocumented immigrants won’t get stimulus checks, at least, not if the Trump Administration has its way.

The Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is pushing back. They’ve launched a lawsuit on behalf of six American citizens to get stimulus checks into the hands of those families.

The only way the government is able to target these families is by noting the undocumented immigrants paying via ITIN. Immigrants who followed the rules are watching their loved ones be penalized. 

Got Questions? Get Help!

It’s a tough time to be an immigrant, and the landscape is changing rapidly. Here at John Hykel Law we’ll continue to monitor the situation.

In the meantime, we’re offering virtual consultations. Give us a call to start yours today.

See also:

Immigration Hiring During the Covid-19 Crisis