Posted on 06/20/2020 6:29:53 PM PDT by NobleFree
President Trump is expected to sign an order as soon as Saturday to suspend H-1B, L-1 and other temporary work visas through the end of the year, according to the multiple sources familiar with the plan.
The new order — which is expected to come with broad exceptions — comes as the administration continues to wrestle with high unemployment among American workers because of the coronavirus pandemic as well as kick-start the economic recovery.
The order would target H-1B visas, which are designed for certain skilled workers such as those employed in the tech industry, as well as L-1 visas, which are meant for executives who work for large corporations.
The executive action is also expected to suspend H-2B visas for seasonal workers such as hotel and construction staff; J-1 visas, which are meant for research scholars and professors and other cultural and work-exchange programs. Trump could renew the suspensions when they lapse. The order is not expected to immediately affect anyone already in the United States.
"No matter how you slice it, this is shaping up to be a big win for American workers at a critical time," said RJ Hauman, government relations director at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for lower levels of immigration. FAIR had called on Trump to suspend guest worker visas.
"We have some concern over potential abuse of broadly written exceptions, but there is still time for that to be addressed, both now and during implementation," Hauman said.
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the plans.
If signed, it would be the latest restriction on immigration imposed by the Trump administration since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.
In May, Trump issued a temporary halt on new green cards but stopped short of suspending guest-worker programs amid concerns from the business community.
Negotiations are ongoing in the latest order over various exceptions, including whether au pairs should be included, and changes could still occur before Trump signs the measure, which could happen imminently. But plans for the order have already raised significant concerns among business and industry groups, as well as universities who depend on foreign workers and scholars.
"The ban on H-1B visas, which are often used to fill very niche positions that are not easily found in the American workforce, will ultimately prove to be counterproductive and is an example of using a nuclear bomb to address a bar fight," said Leon Fresco, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the Obama administration who now represents H-1B workers.
The order does include many exceptions.
It does not apply to H-2A agriculture workers who Trump says are necessary to ensure grocery store shelves remain stocked with fruits and vegetables. Health care workers involved in treating coronavirus patients would also be exempt.
The order would make broad exceptions for travel in the national interest, including in the areas of economics, public health and national security. The U.S. State Department will review and approve these applications on a case-by-case basis.
In 2018, the Trump administration first tightened rules for companies that contract out high-skilled workers who are in this country on H-1B visas. The visas themselves have become controversial. U.S. companies use them to hire highly skilled foreign workers in situations in which they say there is a shortage of U.S.-born talent.
The visas are good for three years and renewable for another three-year term. Critics of the visas — 85,000 of which are issued every year — say American workers are aced out of competition with workers who can be paid less.
Absolutely
Law of supply and demand has been politically messed with for decades; hurting millions of US engineers, programmers and IT professionals
This industry is hard enough, without giving foreign nationals preferences that put Americans at a disadvantage
Leon Fresco lies.
Need to get someone in on an L-1 visa to replace him.
Its an auto Trump win if he does. A loss if he doesn’t.
The optics of thousands of H1B Indian scum coming to the US to steal American jobs when there is 49.5 million Americans out of work is something the American population can’t reconcile
A lying POS like that would have served under Zero. H-1B visas are rarely used as he describes; they are typically used to replace competent Americans with fake-diploma fake-resume drones, so some corporate hack can claim credit for cutting costs.
Do they still try to maintain that farce? Although that may be the claim in the law, H-1B has become the cheap, low-end wage of the IT world. But it cuts out the bottom rung of the ladder from American workers who could make a very good wage at it over a life time. But that good wage is just what corporate America is trying to destroy. They would rather have Indian mercenaries or serfs.
About bloody time!
They're hoping voters don't know any better. Patriotic Americans need to get the word out - and cleanse their ranks of the corporate globalist apologists who also parrot that lie. H-1B or America: time to choose.
Hasn't happened yet.
Good!
“Health care workers involved in treating coronavirus patients would also be exempt.”
What some wordsmithed BS words these were. You’re right, it hasn’t happened yet. The real goal here is to invade and destroy the medical profession next. https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3857678/posts
H-1B or America: time to choose.
———————————
What will be Trump’s choice?
GOOD!!
Suspend H-1B..... forever!
Way to GO PDJTrump!
Right after making ANTIFA a terrorist group...and not just tweeting about it. Waiting.....
He hasn't gone yet.
I expect Trump to move towards a full immigration moratorium in the next few months for the win...
The good news. And it is very good news, is that India’s Coronavirus cases are increasing rapidly. Only 3rd after Brazil. And remember, India is a 3rd works shithole.
Just like Brazil, could a Coronavirus travel ban be imminent?
Here’s praying to the Coronavirus Gods that it is. Too bad Indians in India have to die to save the American Middle Class.
3rd Works = 3rd world. Posting angry does that...
I fully expect the Democrats to sue against any action preventing H-1Bs, and I fully expect the rats to win. Again.
President Trump should have done this day 1 of his presidency.
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