“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 said in a tweet.

It’s the latest measure taken by Trump and his administration to restrict the U.S. border amid the pandemic. Trump has imposed broad travel restrictions on China, Europe, Canada and Mexico to curb the virus’s spread, and the State Department last month temporarily suspended routine visa services at embassies and consulates.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has also already suspended routine in-person services, but is still offering some emergency services.

The president has often said the pandemic has strengthened his desire to further restrict access to the U.S., and even to manufacture certain products on home soil.

Cracking down on illegal immigration and a promise to erect a wall at the Mexican border formed the centerpiece of Trump’s election campaign in 2016.

The US Congress on Monday inched toward a $450 billion deal to help small businesses and hospitals hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying negotiators had come to terms on the ‘principles’ of the package as the Senate set a Tuesday session for a potential vote.

Thousands of Americans concerned about their economic bottom line have been protesting across the country for days, and on Monday, the focal point was Pennsylvania and its capital Harrisburg.

Trump has cheered on the protests, even as health officials warn that a too-rapid reopening could risk a resurgence of deadly outbreaks.

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Speaking at Times Network India Economic Conclave 2019 in Mumbai on Tuesday, Shah said no Indian citizen needs to fear from the Citizenship Act or NRC. “An exercise like NRC cannot be done in secrecy. We have not decided yet and these decisions cannot be taken by me alone. They need Cabinet approvals,” the minister said.

Shah said no minority community would be adversely affected by the implementation of the new law. The Citizenship Act and NRC are subjects under the Union list and states would have to add those, he said.

Amid demands by opposition parties for the withdrawal of the law, Shah said: “There is no going back on the Citizenship Act; the government is firm like rock on its implementation.” The home minister said no action was being taken against students protesting against the Act.

However, action is being taken against those engaging in vandalism and arson during protests, he added. He said the opposition was engaged in a false campaign over the Citizenship Act.

There are more than 400 universities in the country but protests are being witnessed only at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Lucknow University, Jamia Millia and Aligarh Muslim University, he said. “There is nothing anti-minority in the Act; the law only seeks to offer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” he added.

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Violent protests on the Citizenship Amendment Act are unfortunate and deeply distressing.

Debate, discussion and dissent are essential parts of democracy but, never has damage to public property and disturbance of normal life been a part of our ethos.

The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support. Large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India’s centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood.

I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India.

The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised.

We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance.

This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods.

This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods.

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According to the Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

The President’s assent comes even as protests in the northeastern states, particularly Assam, intensified on Thursday as violent mobs torched buildings and clashed with police, leading to the death of two people in police firing. Several others have also been wounded.

Meanwhile The US has urged India to protect the rights of its religious minorities in keeping with its Constitution and democratic values as it continues to watch the developments in various Indian states related to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

“We are closely following developments about the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law are fundamental principles of our two democracies,” a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday.

“The US urges India to protect the rights of its religious minorities in keeping with India’s Constitution and democratic values,” the spokesperson said.

Mobile internet services have been suspended across Meghalaya for the next 48 hours, officials said in the wake of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament. CVD Diengdoh, additional secretary to the government of Meghalaya (home police) department on Thursday said that mobile Internet and messaging were suspended for 48 hours from 5 pm on Thursday in entire Meghalaya to prevent a potential threat to public safety through SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering cancelling his trip to India scheduled to begin on Sunday, Japan’s Jiji Press reported.

Guwahati, the planned venue for a summit between Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been engulfed in violent protests over a controversial citizenship law.

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The Bill seeks to amend Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India even if they do not have any document.

It was passed by the 16th Lok Sabha on January 8. However, it was not tabled in the Rajya Sabha and had later lapsed.

BJP have insisted that minorities from the three countries, which include a significant number of Hindus, should be granted Indian citizenship.

The opposition has raised objection over the Bill. Many political parties, including BJP allies especially in the northeast have openly raised concerns.

The All Assam Students Union (AASU) said the proposed legislation could affect the indigenous people of the northeast. The Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), among others, have opposed the bill, claiming that citizenship cannot be given on the basis of religion.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had, on December 3, held discussions with representatives of students’ bodies and civil society groups of Assam on the proposed legislation, according to news agency PTI. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on December 3, asked its Members of Parliament (MPs) to be present in Parliament in the coming days.e the frequency of flight operation – The Selected Airline Operator (SAO) would be allowed to change the frequency of flight operation, during the tenure of flight operation of the given route, provided that the total scheduled flight operation submitted as part of the Technical Proposal, is conformed and adhered to within a period of one year.

Inclusion of helicopter and sea plane operation under NSOP license – The operation of helicopter and sea plane would be allowed under this round.

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