President Trump has given strong indications that prior to the November elections he will sign an executive order to enact many of the immigration policies he has been unable to pass through legislation. Trump’s 2016 campaign platform included new restrictions on legal immigration. Over the past few months, he has publicly advocated for a new “merit-based” immigration plan that would eliminate all current family and employment-based preference categories and replace them with new “Build America” visas awarded by points.
Political analysts say an important executive order would need to be signed at minimum 60 days before it goes into effect. If Trump is not reelected as President in November, the new order would need to be signed no later than 60 days prior to January 19, 2021, or Friday, November 20, 2020 – after the November elections. Immigration advocates say Trump’s plan could remove an estimated 4 million people off immigrant waiting lists.
The presidential merit-based immigration order would limit the ability of companies to employ high-skilled foreign nationals using H-1B visas and family-based immigrants:
• H-1B visas are for highly-skilled foreign workers, often in the technology fields. Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation in June that suspended the entry of foreign nationals on H-1B and L-1 visas until at least December 31, 2020.
• Frequently calling it “chain migration,” Trump has advocated to eliminate family-sponsored green cards for the parents, adult children, and siblings of U.S. citizens, as well as the spouses and young children of permanent residents.
Immigration experts say that current USCIS immigration policies are primarily merit-based; H-1B visa merits are determined by employers, instead of the merits chosen by the government.
Godoy Law Office keeps the American Dream alive by guiding immigrants to make informed, smart legal decisions. For a consultation regarding your immigration law concerns, contact Godoy Law in Chicago online or call us at 855-554-6369.
Immigration Attorney Mario Godoy has years of experience guiding clients with immigration issues through the immigration process along with guiding clients through the criminal case. Godoy focuses on family-based immigration law, business immigration law, removal defense, and criminal defense representation of immigrants. A criminal charge or conviction can be devastating to your immigration case. With over a decade of immigration law experience and memories of family members who were deported due to bad legal advice, Godoy is committed to helping other immigrant families receive the legal justice they deserve. As a legal entrepreneur who practices immigration law, criminal law, estate and probate law, and running two successful law firms, Mario Godoy understands the importance of keeping families together and making a home and future in America.
