U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday revoked a proclamation from his predecessor that blocked many green card applicants from entering the United States.
Former President Donald Trump issued the ban last year, saying it was needed to protect U.S. workers amid high unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden rejected that reasoning in a proclamation on Wednesday rescinding the visa ban. The Democratic president said it had prevented families from reuniting in the United States and harmed U.S. businesses.
Biden, a Democrat, has pledged to reverse many of Trump's hardline immigration policies. Immigrant advocates had pressed in recent weeks for him to lift the visa ban, which was set to expire on March 31.
Biden left in place another ban on most foreign temporary workers.
In October, a federal judge in California blocked Trump's ban on those foreign guest workers as it affected hundreds of thousands of U.S. businesses that fought the policy in court.
Curtis Morrison, a California-based immigration attorney, who represents people subject to the ban said Biden will now have to tackle a growing backlog of applications that have been held up for months as the pandemic shut down most visa processing by the State Department.
The process could potentially take years, he said.
"It's a backlog that Trump created," Morrison said. "He broke the immigration system."
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Latest Stories
-
GBC accuses Deputy Information Minister Sylvester Tetteh of demolishing its bungalow illegally
10 mins -
Boost for education as government commissions 80 projects
21 mins -
NAPO commissions library to honour Atta-Mills’ memory
32 mins -
OmniBSIC Bank champions health and wellness with thriving community walk
34 mins -
Kora Wearables unveils Neo: The Ultimate Smartwatch for Ghana’s tech-savvy and health-conscious users
38 mins -
NDC supports Dampare’s ‘no guns at polling stations’ directive
41 mins -
Police officer interdicted after video of assault goes viral
58 mins -
KNUST’s Prof. Reginald Annan named first African recipient of World Cancer Research Fund
59 mins -
George Twum-Barimah-Adu pledges inclusive cabinet with Minority and Majority leaders
2 hours -
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
2 hours -
Parliament urged to fast-track passage of Road Traffic Amendment Bill
2 hours -
Mr Daniel Kofi Asante aka Electrician
2 hours -
Minerals Commission, Solidaridad unveils forum to tackle child labour in mining sector
2 hours -
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
2 hours -
Retain NPP for the good of Ghana – Rebecca Akufo-Addo
2 hours