Some see Trump's plan as a move to distract attention from his failed COVID-19 response, while others think that the pandemic is an excuse to execute his agenda to stop immigration all together.

• Apr 21, 2020

AceShowbiz - President Donald Trump is making yet another eyebrow-raising decision amid the coronavirus crisis. The president has announced that he will sign an executive order that will temporarily suspend immigration to the U.S. due to the ongoing pandemic.

"In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens," he wrote on Twitter on late Monday, April 20, "I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!"

The president didn't further explain what mechanism he will use to suspend immigration, how long the suspension could last or what effect this will have on those who already hold green cards. The White House also declined to provide further information on the executive order.

Needless to say, Trump's announcement gained enormous reactions from critics, who see it as his attempt to distract attention from his failed COVID-19 response. Congressman Jerry Nadler tweeted, "President Trump now seeks to distract us from his fumbled COVID-19 response by trying to put the blame on immigrants. The truth is many immigrants are on our front lines, protecting us as doctors, nurses, health aids, farmworkers, and restaurant workers."

Attorney Walter Shaub agreed, stating, "Yes, Trump's immigration Exec Order is a ploy to distract from his failed COVID-19 response. Yes, he's unsure as to whether the court will overturn it. But it'd be a mistake to dismiss it as a ploy. It's the next trial balloon as he warms up to a much bigger power grab this year."

Meanwhile, British environmentalist David Rothschild remarked, "Groups President Trump have blamed while avoiding any responsibly for his willful negligence & corruption that have killed 43,000 (and counting): Chinese, Democratic governors, Media, doctors & nurses, WHO, immigrants."

Activist Charlotte Clymer was baffled by Trump's move, asking, "Let me get this straight: Trump thinks the economy should 'reopen' in the immediate future against the advice of medical experts and governors of both parties but he's announcing an executive order banning immigration because of the 'health risks' to our economy?"

Some others believe that the health concerns are just Trump's excuse to justify aggressively restricting immigration. One Twitter user claimed, "So Trump is using the Pandemic as an excuse to stop immigration into the US, like he's been trying to do since before the Pandemic..."

A concerned user chimed in, "Trump is locking down ALL IMMIGRATION, instead of locking down the whole country. We are stuck in the house with a monster who is killing us."