NOONG Hunyo 22, 2020, si President Trump ay naglabas ng Proclamation na nagsususpinde ng pagpasok ng mga dayuhang maaaring magdulot ng panganib sa U.S. labor market pagkatapos ng epekto ng COVID-19 pandemic. Ang Proclamation ay epektibo mula Hunyo 24, 2020 hanggang Disyembre 31, 2020. Ang mga lawful permanent resident o green card holders na nasa loob at labas ng U.S., at mga dayuhang may valid nonimmigrant visas ay hindi sakop sa Proclamation.
Binanggit ng Proclamation ang economic impact ng COVID-19 sa U.S. workers bilang katwiran kung bakit nililimitahan ang pagpasok ng ilang category ng foreign workers.
Kasama na dito ang H-1B specialty occupation, H-2B seasonal o temporary workers, J-1 interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs, participants in summer work travel program, at L-1 intracompany transferees, executives at managers, specialized knowledge workers, (pati ang kanilang asawa at mga anak), kung sila ay (a) nasa labas ng U.S. noong petsa ng effectivity ng Proclamation, o Hunyo 24, 2020; (b) wala silang nonimmigrant visa noong Hunyo 24, 2020; at (c) wala silang official travel document na nagpapahintulot na sila ay makapasok ng U.S. Subalit ang mga dayuhang may valid H-1B, H-2B, J-1 at L-1 visas ay maaaring makapasok ng US sapagkat walang babawiing valid visas ang Proclamation.
Ang USCIS Deputy Director for Policy na si Joseph Edlow ay nagbigay din ng pahayag ng USCIS tungkol sa Proclamation. Sinabi ng USCIS na ito ay panandaliang naglilimita ng pagbigay ng ilang kategorya ng visa upang protektahan ang mga trabaho ng U.S. workers habang ang U.S. economy ay bumabangon mula sa epekto ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Kinumpirma rin ng USCIS na ito ay magpapatuloy sa pagtanggap ng mga dayuhang may mga valid visa na, tulad ng H-1B at iba pang work-related visas, habang tinutulungan nila ang U.S. workers na makapagtrabaho at makahanap ng trabaho.
Ang Proclamation ay hindi ankop sa: (1) lawful permanent residents o green card holders; (2) asawa at anak ng U.S. citizen; (3) indibidwal na papasok sa US para magbigay ng essential temporary labor sa U.S. food supply chain; (4) indibidwal na ang pagpasok ay nasa national interest ayon sa determinasyon ng Department of State at Department of Homeland Security. Masasabing nasa “national interest” exemption ang indibidwal kapag (1) ang trabaho niya ay kritikal sa defense, law enforcement, diplomacy o national security ng U.S.; (2) siya ang magbibigay ng medical care sa mga na-ospital na may COVID-19; (3) kasama siya sa medical research sa US facilities upang labanan ang COVID-19; (4) ang kanyang trabaho ay kailangan para sa economic recovery ng U.S.; o (5) siya ay “child” na maaaring mag age-out sa visa eligibility dahil sa Proclamation.
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On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens who present a risk to the U.S. labor market following the COVID-19 outbreak. This Proclamation takes effect on June 24, 2020 and will expire on December 31, 2020. It may be continued as necessary. Lawful permanent residents and aliens inside or outside the US holding valid nonimmigrant visas are not subject to the Proclamation
The Proclamation cites the economic impact of COVID-19 on U.S. workers as the justification for limiting the entry of foreign workers. Thus, the Proclamation suspends entry of nonimmigrant visas in the following categories: H-1B (specialty occupations), H-2B (seasonal or temporary work), J-1 (interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs, participants in summer work travel program) and L-1 (intracompany transferees, executives and managers, specialized knowledge workers), together with their spouses and children if they are (a) outside the U.S. on the effective date of the Proclamation, or June 24, 2020; (b) do not have a nonimmigrant visa as of June 24, 2020; and (c) do not have an official travel document permitting them to be admitted to the U.S. However, those with valid H-1B, H-2B, J-1 and L-1 visas that are outside the U.S. can enter the U.S. as no valid visas are revoked by the Proclamation.
USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow issued a USCIS Statement on the Proclamation, stating that it “temporarily restricts certain categories of visas from being issued to protect jobs for American workers while our economy recovers from the effects of COVID-19.” USCIS further affirmed that it will continue to honor already issued valid visas, such as H-1B or similar visas as the U.S. helps American workers get back on their feet.
The Proclamation does not apply to: (1) lawful permanent residents or green card holders; (2) spouse or child of a U.S. citizen; (3) any individual seeking entry to provide temporary labor essential to the U.S. food supply chain; (4) any individual whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by Department of State and Department of Homeland Security. A person may be considered under the “national interest” exemption if said individual (1) performs work that is critical to the defense, law enforcement, diplomacy or national security of the U.S.; (2) is involved with the provision of medical care to individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and are currently hospitalized; (3) is involved with the provision of medical research at U.S. facilities to help the U.S. combat COVID-19; (4) is necessary to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the U.S.; or (5) is a child who would age-out of eligibility for a visa due to the Proclamation.
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ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).
SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: [email protected].
