Trump extends pandemic-related visa ban through March 31

President Donald Trump on Thursday extended pandemic-related bans on issuing green cards and work visas to large groups of applicants outside United States through March 31.

Federal judges limited impact but bans, however short-lived, significantly tightened legal immigration, a goal that had eluded Trump before coronavirus struck. y had been set to expire Thursday.

An extension is consistent with Trump’s hardline stance on immigration and passes on decision over when and wher to lift bans to President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office Jan. 20. Biden's immigration platform doesn't specifically address issue.

In April, Trump imposed a ban on green cards issued abroad that largely targets family members of people already in United States. After a surprisingly chilly reception from immigration hawks, administration went much furr in June by adding H-1B visas, which are widely used by American and Indian techlogy company workers and ir families; H-2B visas for nagricultural seasonal workers; J-1 visas for cultural exchanges; and L-1 visas for manrs and or key employees of multinational corporations.

Trump said measures would protect American jobs in a pandemic-wracked ecomy, while business groups said y would hamper a recovery.

By contrast, administration's edict to immediately expel asylum-seekers and ors who cross border illegally from Mexico was justified on grounds of containing coronavirus, though reporting by Associated Press and ors found that government scientists saw evidence for it. A temporary ban on n-essential travel across Mexican and Canadian borders was also done for public health.

In October, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of San Francisco, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that work-visa ban could t be enforced against groups that sued and ir members, who represent much of U.S. ecomy: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, techlogy industry group TechNet and Intrax Inc., which mans cultural exchange programs.

In December, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of Oakland, California, an appointee of President Barack Obama, prevented green-card ban from taking effect against families of 181 U.S. citizens and legal residents who sued.

Im credits: AP