Immigration Announcement
The United States has banned immigrants but Canada is still welcoming them
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has issued an Executive Order that has suspended all immigration in light of the current pandemic. Canada and the United States are neighboring countries but have clearly taken different approaches to handle the pandemic.
The temporary ban imposed by the American government will now come into effect as President Trump has fulfilled the promise that he had made via a Twitter post. The Executive Order was signed by Trump and will take effect on April 23 at 11:59 PM EST. This order will stop the processing of all permanent resident applications for the next two days.
The applicants submitted by people living outside the country will be kept on hold until the ban lifts. However, there are a few exemptions that one needs to keep in mind. According to reports, the ban is not applicable for immigrants who are researchers or health care professionals and want to enter the US to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Response to the ban:
Many people have criticized the immigration ban imposed by Trump on the grounds that the step is not directly linked with the efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus. It is suspected that Trump may have orchestrated this move in order to fit his political agenda because of the upcoming presidential election.
On the other hand, Canada has not imposed any drastic immigration suspension. Coronavirus has damaged the global economy, but Canada acknowledges that immigration is a major driver of its labor market. The country’s economic growth will largely depend on the immigrants once the pandemic is over. Canada has imposed temporary restrictions on international travel, but the country is still working on approving the applications for permanent residence. Draws are being held regularly so that more people can be invited.
