President Joe Biden on Wednesday rescinded the immigrant visa ban on new lawful permanent residents applying from abroad, saying the ban and its extensions failed to advance American interests. This ban was most harmful for family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents and diversity lottery winners, as well as some employees of U.S. companies.
Biden's order revokes Presidential Proclamation 10014 and its two extensions ahead of their expected March 31 expiration date. Trump first set the ban in April 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the ban barred an estimated 48,000 spouses and minor children of permanent residents from entering the U.S., and an estimated 12,000 employees of U.S. businesses. In a recent court filing, the Department of State revealed that it has a backlog of 473,000 documentarily qualified family-based immigrant visa applicants—meaning rescission of the ban is merely the first step.
Proclamation 10014 "harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world," BIden’s order said. The rescission is overdue good news for immigrants, U.S. families, and U.S. businesses.