This Issue: One month since WH announced immigration suspension -- will it be expanded?

Fri, May 22^th

On April 22, Pres. Trump signed an executive order that suspended the issuance of green cards in several categories, including family chain migration, the visa lottery, and most employment-based categories. (Read Roy's response here.)

The executive order proclaimed:

... we must be mindful of the impact of foreign workers on the United States labor market, particularly in an environment of high domestic unemployment and depressed demand for labor.

With another 2.4 million unemployment claims filed this week, the total number of American workers who have filed for unemployment since March is quickly approaching 40 million.

Even though the White House order linked immigration to the U.S. labor force, it only restricted green cards. The order failed to restrict guest worker programs which would have provide the greatest relief to unemployed Americans. However, the White House hasn't close the door on suspending these programs.

Within 30 days of the effective date of this proclamation, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall review nonimmigrant programs and shall recommend to me other measures appropriate to stimulate the United States economy and ensure the prioritization, hiring, and employment of United States workers.

Today is May 22 -- exactly one month from the signing of the executive order.

What now?

According to the order, the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor were supposed to send their recommendations to the Administration this week. That means that a revised executive order could come next week.

NumbersUSA grassroots activists have sent tens of thousands of messages to the White House and to Congress asking for the order to be expanded to cover a number of visa programs, including the H-1B high-skilled visa program, the H-2B low-skilled visa program, the J-1 summer work program, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, and the EB-5 investor visa program.

In addition, a number of letters have been sent from Members of Congress to the White House, urging Pres. Trump to expand the order to cover many of the above listed visa programs. Just this week, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and other Members of the House Freedom Caucus sent their recommendations to the White House.

If you haven't sent the message on your Action Board to Pres. Trump, please do so this weekend. It may be the last chance to pressure the White House into expanding the executive order and helping the nearly 40 million Americans who have filed for unemployment benefits get back to work.

Chris Chmielenski
NumbersUSA Deputy Director

We need your help to fill in a lot of blanks on nearly 600 congressional races. Yes, nearly 600!

STEP 1: Go to our locator map and check out the Primary candidates for Representative in your own District -- as well as for a Senate race, if your state has one this year.

You'll probably find a lot blanks because most candidates have not taken our survey and we've not come across them taking immigration positions in the media. In general, you can assume the blanks are masking a poor or bad position. Let's unmask them.

STEP 2: Email Joe at [email protected] if you see any comment about one of those candidates taking an immigration position in the newspaper or on the internet. Pay special attention to candidates who are considered competitive for possibly winning the Primary.

Many primaries have been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we continue to add races to our candidate comparison pages.

NBC News: Rosemary commented on whether the Trump Administration should suspend a program that allows foreign student graduates to work in the U.S. after graduation: But Rosemary Jenks, executive vice president of NumbersUSA, which shares Miller's goal of decreasing overall immigration, said it would be a mistake to keep the program open. Jenks noted that OPT is a regulatory program not protected by statute.

"At a time when millions of Americans and lawful permanent residents are graduating from college with severely limited job opportunities due to COVID-19, it makes absolutely no sense for the administration to continue a regulatory program that allows foreign graduates to take jobs Americans need," she said.

What is amnesty?

GRANT NEWMAN

Wed, May 20^th

Amnesty has become a politically-charged term over the years, which has resulted in Members of Congress, activists, reporters, etc., jumping through hoops to try and prevent the term from sticking to their bill of choice. Let's break down the definition . . .

Lawmakers continue to press Trump to suspend guest worker programs for a year

Fri, May 22^th

A group of GOP lawmakers led by House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (Ariz.) are continuing to call on the Trump administration to temporarily stop issuing all new guest-worker visas amid the coronavirus pandemic.

US workers file 2.4 million jobless claims as crisis total tops 38 million

Thu, May 21^st

Another 2.4 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as the number of workers sidelined by the coronavirus crisis topped 38 million, new federal data show.

Tom Cotton unveils No Bailouts for Illegal Aliens Act

Wed, May 20^th

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) proposed legislation that would block the federal government from giving taxpayer-funded stimulus money to states and cities that give coronavirus relief checks to illegal aliens.

House Passes Legislation to Grant Amnesty & Stimulus Checks to Illegal Aliens

Sat, May 16^th

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, on Friday night by a narrow margin, 208-to-199. The bill would grant deferred action and work authorization to illegal aliens, working in "critical infrastructure" occupations, until 90 days after the end of the declared national emergency. The bill would also extend the expiration dates for nonimmigrant visas and work permits, fast-track the importation of foreign health care workers, and allow stimulus checks from the CARES Act to be issued to illegal aliens.