Donald Trump bans ALL immigration into the U.S. to ‘protect jobs’ amid coronavirus pandemic

Donald Trump announced Monday he will be banning all immigration into the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The president tweeted Monday: ‘In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!’ 

At least 22 million Americans are now out of work as tough measures to control the coronavirus outbreak wiped out 13.5 percent of the workforce and 10 years of job growth.

There were 5.2 million new claims for unemployment benefits filed last week, according to the latest Labor Department figures released on Thursday.

The staggering number of first-time claims was on top of the 16.8 million applications filed since the virus took hold in mid-March.

Economists say the unemployment rate could reach as high as 20 percent in April, which would be the highest rate since the Great Depression of the 1930s. While accurate records didn’t begin until 1948, economists say the unemployment rate rose to 25 percent in 1933.  

In an address to the nation last month Trump announced a drastic ban on foreigners traveling to the United States from Europe. 

He had already banned travel from China as the COVID-19 outbreak was spreading from the city of Wuhan.