Biden Reopens Gateway For Green Cards And Work Visas, Reversing Trump COVID-19 Freeze
By Vanessa Romo
February 24, 2021
President Biden on Wednesday revoked a freeze that his predecessor had put on many types of visas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the order did not advance U.S. interests and hurt industries and individuals alike.
“It harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here,” Biden said in a proclamation revoking the measure.
Former President Donald Trump had frozen “green cards” for new immigrants and halted temporary work visas for skilled workers, managers and au pairs in the H-1B, H-4, H-2B, L-1 and J categories, he said to protect jobs. He argued that the dramatic clampdown on legal immigration was vital to safeguarding the U.S. labor market during the pandemic.