Tens of thousands of Cuban Americans are anxiously waiting to be reunited with their loved ones through the immigration process. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration has issued increasingly restrictive measures to cut back on legal immigration, including a proclamation to suspend immigration based on perceived risk to U.S. workers’ jobs. This has resulted in the continued separation of Floridians from their loved ones in Cuba. A Miami immigration lawyer at Pozo Goldstein, LLP might help clients with Cuban immigration needs to be reunited with their family members in the U.S.
Petition to stop the proclamation
The proclamation that suspends legal immigration is being challenged by a petition on the “We the People” section of the White House’s website. More than 30,000 people have signed the petition calling for the proclamation to end. The petition calls for President Trump to reverse his decision to suspend immigration from Cuba until the end of 2020. The petitioners ask that their families are allowed to enter the U.S. as soon as the borders are opened instead of forcing them to wait until 2021. Petitions on the White House’s “We the People” section are not reviewed unless they secure 100,000 or more signatures.
White House’s position
The White House has argued that the suspension of legal immigration during the pandemic is necessary to protect U.S. jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the loss of 21 million U.S. jobs. However, the economy has shown signs of improvement and has recently added 2.5 million jobs. Previously, the Trump Administration suspended the Parole Family Reunification Program, which is a special reunification program for Cuban Americans and their loved ones. That program was established in 2007 to help reunite Cuban Americans with their loved ones, and some people have waited for several years for their immigration cases to be heard. The government also suspended processing immigrant visas at its embassy in Cuba following an incident in Havana that left many U.S. diplomats ill.
Visa lottery winners on hold
Cubans who won the visa lottery are also on hold because of the suspension of legal immigration. Cuba and Venezuela had the most visa lottery winners. People who won the visa lottery now worry that they will not be able to get visas to enter the U.S. in time. The administration has frequently targeted the visa lottery program, and Trump has indicated that he would like to eliminate it.
Talk to a Miami immigration lawyer at Pozo Goldstein, LLP
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to new wrinkles for Cuban immigration. People who need help with family reunification or other immigration needs may benefit from consulting with a Miami immigration lawyer at Pozo Goldstein, LLP. Our firm includes former immigration prosecutors and a former judge who understand the complexities of immigration cases, and we have helped thousands of people accomplish their goals. Contact us today for a consultation by calling us at 305.856.0400.
