U.S. suspends immigration during coronavirus pandemic

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to halt some immigrants from entering the U.S., though his action contained a wide series of exceptions for workers in agriculture, health care, public safety, and other industries.

"This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens," Trump said during his daily briefing on Wednesday. "It will also preserve our health care resources for American patients."  

The president said he would re-evaluate the halt after 60 days – and noted that he could alter it any time before that – and stressed that the new rules do not apply to some workers. The order was released by the White House during the president's briefing. Trump said he signed it just before speaking with reporters.