In a late-night announcement on Monday, President Donald Trump revealed he's temporarily suspending immigration to the U.S. in an effort to "protect jobs" during the coronavirus pandemic. This came after three states -- Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina -- all announced their plans on Monday to begin reopening some businesses.
In a tweet, Trump wrote his decision was prompted by an "attack from the invisible enemy" and a "need to protect the jobs of our great American citizens." He added he plans on signing an executive order to carry out the closure, although he didn't indicate when that might happen.
But not everyone agrees...
"The implication is that immigrants are a threat to the American economy, but we know the exact opposite to be true," said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. "While immigrants across America are on the front lines risking their lives to save ours, it is simply unconscionable to scapegoat immigrants for this pandemic."
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over 100 migrants at 25 different detention centers have already tested positive for the coronavirus.
Read the full report on The New York Times.