President Donald Trump has said that he will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend all immigration to the US to "protect" the jobs of Americans and to fight the "invisible attack" on the country by the coronavirus pandemic, a move that was widely criticised by the Democrats, including Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris.
The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 42,094 people in the US, the country with the most fatalities in the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University, and more than 750,000 cases have been confirmed.
"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! Trump, a Republican, seeking reelection in the November presidential poll, said in a tweet late on Monday.
Details of Trump's executive order were not immediately known. He also did not indicate when he would sign such an order.
The president's announcement comes as his administration seeks to reopen parts of the US from the crippling COVID-19 shutdown.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said "President Trump is committed to protecting the health and economic well-being of American citizens as we face unprecedented times."
The NBC News quoting a senior administration official reported that the move "had been under consideration for a while."
Democrat Joaquin Castro tweeted, "This action is not only an attempt to divert attention away from Trump's failure to stop the spread of the coronavirus and save lives, but an authoritarian-like move to take advantage of a crisis and advance his anti-immigrant agenda."