Yeah, that's scary news. This article has better background information.This is indeed bad and scary news. If I may venture some speculation here, I want to believe refugees/asylees will be OK or exempt. I want to believe the main restrictions here will be upon NEW work-related or study-related applications into the US, as well as non-immediate family sponsored visas. Since refugees/asylees are not economic migrants, suspending all immigration to "protect jobs" shouldn't affect refugees then. Of course with this administration, you never know. So everybody cross your fingers, and let's hope for the best. <collective hug>
This is speculation but I think he will block immigration for the following:
1. HB1 Visas - the govt. hates this program.
2. Family Based Employment Green Cards - He has called this chain migration, so they will likely target/block this.
3. Diversity Lottery Visas - This is easy target as it is run by the state department, and involves foreigners
4. F1 Student visa - I don't think this is an easy target. Universities will cry foul...and they get billions from this visa. But they could block it, which doesn't make sense since it is a non-immigrant visa.
5. Asylee/Refugees - They have already but this severely. Technically, they can stop supporting refugee resettlement. For asylees, this is nothing new here. They have already been carrying out instant deportations for undocumented/etc asylees on the southern border. The question is, what will they do with the ones already in the US? What about those in pending cases?
6. Family Based Green Cards (not employment based) - as as (2) above.
While in the news they might claim 'suspension' in adjudication of the cases, they can effectively ban approvals/processing/etc.
This doesn't look good.
Very bad part? Possible this admin might be given another 4 years in office.
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