Washington: U.S President Donald Trump said the immigration for green card seekers will be suspended for 60 days. Speaking to the reporters on Tuesday at White House, Trump said that this move would help Americans find work again after Covid- 19 caused a surge in unemployment.

The suspension would come into force through an executive order that he would likely sign on Wednesday as he offered the first details about a vague announcement he made Monday night on Twitter, said Trump. Addressing an issue key to his conservative base as the country is ravaged by the Covid- 19 pandemic, with more than 43,000 people dead in the US, Trump said his move would help Americans who have lost their jobs during the ongoing shutdown.

At his daily Covid- 19 briefing Trump said, “By pausing immigration, it will help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens”. “This pause will be in effect for 60 days,” he told reporters, adding that he would decide on any extension or changes “based on economic conditions at the time.”

Trump said the order would “only apply to individuals seeking a permanent residency — in other words, those receiving green cards.”  “It will not apply to those entering on a temporary basis,” he added. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted lawful permanent residence to around 577,000 individuals in 2019. Trump said there would be exemptions that his administration would detail before the order is signed.”We’ll sign it most likely tomorrow. Being drawn now and tonight and it’s something we have to have in this country,” he added.