Trump to suspend all immigration into US over coronavirus

MANDEL NGAN / AFP

US President Donald Trump has announced his plans to temporarily suspend all immigration into the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He took to Twitter to announce his decision, claiming it is aimed at protecting American jobs.

"In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States," he wrote on Twitter.

The leader, however, did not detail which immigration programme will be impacted by the order.

Even, the White House did not to elaborate on Trump's Twitter announcement.

Meanwhile, several Democrats described it as his ploy to divert attention from his administration's slow response to the coronavirus.

So far, the US has more than 792,000 positive cases and over 42,000 fatalities. 

More from International News

  • Thousands of Australians without power as cyclone Alfred hits

    Hundreds of thousands of people in Australia's Queensland state were without power on Sunday after Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, brought damaging winds and heavy rains, sparking flood warnings.

  • Israeli airstrike kills two in southern Gaza

    An Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, medical sources said, as mediators pushed ahead with talks to extend a shaky 42-day ceasefire agreed in January between Israel and Hamas.

  • 12 people injured in Toronto pub shooting

    Toronto Police said early on Saturday they were searching for three male suspects in a shooting that injured at least 12 people at a pub in the Canadian city.

  • Cyclone Alfred downgraded as millions stay indoors

    Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred lingered off the south-east Australian coast on Saturday and forecasters said Brisbane is likely to miss the worst of the storm, a relief for millions of residents in the region who have been staying indoors.