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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Coronavirus: Immigration to US to be suspended amid pandemic, says Trump | Coronavirus: Immigration to US to be suspended amid pandemic, says Trump |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Donald Trump has said he will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend all immigration to the US because of the coronavirus. | |
| In a late night message on Twitter, he cited "the attack from the invisible enemy", as he calls the virus, and "the need to protect the jobs" of Americans. | |
| He gave no other details. Critics say the Trump administration is using the pandemic to crack down on immigration. | |
| The country has 782,159 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 41,816 deaths. | |
| Mr Trump's announcement comes as the White House also argues the worst of the pandemic is over and the country can begin reopening. | |
| The US has already agreed with both Canada and Mexico to extend border restrictions on non-essential travel until at least mid-May. | The US has already agreed with both Canada and Mexico to extend border restrictions on non-essential travel until at least mid-May. |
| Travel has also been sharply restricted from Europe and China, though people with temporary work visas, students and business travellers are exempted. | Travel has also been sharply restricted from Europe and China, though people with temporary work visas, students and business travellers are exempted. |
| The reasons behind the move | The reasons behind the move |
| Donald Trump's efforts at governing by social media should always be taken with a sizable grain of salt. His track record on following through on Twitter directives is decidedly mixed. The details of his temporary ban on all immigration, announced a few hours before midnight on Monday, will shed considerable light on the breadth - and legality - of his actions. | Donald Trump's efforts at governing by social media should always be taken with a sizable grain of salt. His track record on following through on Twitter directives is decidedly mixed. The details of his temporary ban on all immigration, announced a few hours before midnight on Monday, will shed considerable light on the breadth - and legality - of his actions. |
| Still, it is no secret that the president, and several key advisors, have long viewed immigration not as a benefit to the nation, but as a drain. And the text of his tweet, that the move is necessary not only to protect the nation's health but also "the jobs of its great American citizens", only emphasizes this. | Still, it is no secret that the president, and several key advisors, have long viewed immigration not as a benefit to the nation, but as a drain. And the text of his tweet, that the move is necessary not only to protect the nation's health but also "the jobs of its great American citizens", only emphasizes this. |
| There is little doubt the proposal, in whatever form it takes, will be vigorously opposed by pro-immigration groups, some business interests and the president's ideological adversaries. That is probably just fine with a man who loves drawing political battle lines and goading his opponents whenever possible. | There is little doubt the proposal, in whatever form it takes, will be vigorously opposed by pro-immigration groups, some business interests and the president's ideological adversaries. That is probably just fine with a man who loves drawing political battle lines and goading his opponents whenever possible. |
| Four years ago, the president campaigned on an aggressive anti-immigration platform, including a total, if temporary, ban on all Muslims entering the country. Now, with an uphill re-election fight looming, he has found a similarly combative measure to champion. | Four years ago, the president campaigned on an aggressive anti-immigration platform, including a total, if temporary, ban on all Muslims entering the country. Now, with an uphill re-election fight looming, he has found a similarly combative measure to champion. |
| What's the latest in the US? | |
| Earlier on Monday, Democratic governors asked the White House to urge Americans to heed stay-at-home orders amid anti-lockdown protests stoked by the president. | |
| Mr Trump has been accused of inciting insurrection after championing the demonstrators, while telling governors they were in charge. | |
| He has expressed his support of the protesters in recent days, even as state governors say they are following White House guidance for safely reopening in phases. | |
| Mr Trump - who faces an election in November - last week tweeted in all capital letters for several states to be liberated. At Sunday's coronavirus briefing he said those protesting against their governors' social distancing measures were "great people". | |
| "Their life was taken away from them," he said. "These people love our country, they want to get back to work." |