"Hollywood was built by immigrants - mostly Jews whose families emigrated from eastern Europe - and long has thrived on the infusion of fresh talent and consumers from around the world. So the industry is struggling to grapple with the impact of President Donald Trump's Jan. 27 executive order temporarily banning immigration to the U.S. from seven mostly-Muslim countries - even as most entertainment moguls have remained silent on the issue.
The ban, which impacts most immigrants and visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, came just as the TV industry's pilot season was getting underway. The annual production crunch sees hundreds of foreign actors travel to Los Angeles and New York for meetings and casting sessions, often on expedited visas. Studios and talent agencies declined to comment, but privately, many say they are evaluating how the so-called Muslim ban and expected visa delays for all foreign nationals will impact decisions on pilots and series pickups this spring. "Production companies are vetting talent to see if they could face a possible bar," says Richard Tashjian, an immigration attorney who works with Sony and CAA. "Past that, there is no contingency plan if the bar is expanded."
Trump's Immigration Ban Wreaks Havoc in Hollywood: Foreign Stars and Casting Impacted
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