Biden lifts immigration ban

President Joe Biden revoked a freeze on green cards issued by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, during the pandemic in the name of protecting the coronavirus-hit job market. On December 31, the former President extended those orders until the end of March. This order had been opposed by lawyers who argued that this decree was blocking most legal immigration to the United States. President Joe Biden asserted that this proclamation does not advance the interests of the United States.

“It harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world,” Biden stated. The American Immigrant Lawyers Association estimates that around 120,000 family-based preference visas were lost largely because of the pandemic-related freeze last year. It also barred the entry of immigrants with employment-based visas, unless they were considered beneficial to the national interest such as health care professionals.