On June 22, 2020, President Trump signed a proclamation suspending the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers and their family members. The order directly impacts the following nonimmigrant workers:
H-1B: Specialty Occupations
H-2B: Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
J-1: Exchange Visitors (interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs, and summer work travel programs)
L-1: Intracompany Transferees
This order is effective June 24, 2020 and will remain in place through at least December 31, 2020 with the possibility of further extension.
The International Institute of New England is a longtime advocate of immigrant and refugee rights and denounces President Trump’s decision. Our Immigration Legal Services program serves many people impacted by this order, and we know first-hand how devastating it is to workers and employers alike.
This decision harms businesses of all kinds, families, universities, hospitals, communities, and will further delay America’s economic recovery. The President has already separated families and weakened communities with his April order banning the admission of legal permanent residents; by continuing that ban through the end of the year and expanding it to include critical nonimmigrant workers, the President has continued his attack on legal immigration.
Immigrants and their families have a tremendous impact on our economy. IINE urges the current administration, government agencies, and lawmakers to implement measures that will actually promote public health and the economy rather than block critical talent from entering the United States.
IINE looks forward to supporting legal efforts to overturn this proclamation, and we urge our partners and friends to advocate for a change in this policy as well.
