OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 3:51 PM PT — Saturday, April 25, 2020
White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller has revealed his intentions to have President Trump extend the 60-day immigration ban.
During a private call Thursday, Miller reportedly told a group of
supporters that the ban is a stepping stone for a much broader
suspension.His remarks came just days after the president signed an executive order halting the issuance of green cards for some foreign nationals. The measure was implemented to protect American workers from foreign competition during the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 26 million Americans filed for unemployment in the past month.
“This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens,” stated President Trump.
However, the ban has faced a substantial amount of criticism due to its exception for certain groups, including essential workers and family members of U.S. citizens.
Miller has defended the president by saying “the most important thing is to turn off the faucet of new immigrant labor,” which should disrupt chain migration. He added that the benefit to American workers “compounds with time.”
“It’s for 60 days. At the end of 60
days, or maybe even during 60 days, I’ll extend it, or not, and I’ll
maybe change it. I might modify it.” – Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor to the President
Acting Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, who later
joined the call, reportedly revealed that the president had been
considering an immigration freeze long before announcing the suspension.
He noted his agency has been reviewing the measure for several months
and added he looks forward to presenting the president with
“recommendations for additional steps.”