On June 22, Donald Trump announced that temporary work permits including H-1B, H-4, and L-1 have been temporarily suspended until Dec. 31. The president says the temporary ban is to protect local workers who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The U.S. tech industry didn't support the decision, claiming it would not only hurt innovation but also delay the recovery of the nation's economy. With foreign work visas temporarily suspended, nearly 5,25,000 jobs are likely to be made available to the American people, senior administration officials explained after the president issued the proclamation banning the H-1B, H-4, H-2B, J and L visas.
In a recently released statement, Trump said they have a moral duty to come up with an immigration system that protects the jobs and lives of the American people. He confirmed that the suspension will be effective until the end of the current year.
Trump said that between Feb. and April 2020, over 20 million American people lost their jobs in industries where employers are currently seeking H-1B and L workers to occupy positions. On top of that, the May unemployment rate of young people who have to go up against some J nonimmigrant visa applicants has been high, he pointed out.
Furthermore, the president explained in the order that workers entering the country through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L nonimmigrant visa programs pose a significant threat to the employment opportunities for American people who have been hit the hardest amid the pandemic. Indian citizens get about 70 percent of the 85,000 H1-B visas that are issued each year.
It is worth noting that the restrictions will apply to new work visas only while existing holders who are currently in the United States will not be affected by the order. In other words, visa holders outside the United States will not be able to return to the country.
The official said this move is a part of Trump's attempt to getting America back to work following the hit to its economy due to coronavirus. The H-1B alludes to the high-tech visa, while H-4 refers to the spouses of other visa holders such as H-1B and H-2B. H-2B, which is a bit of a low-skill catchall.
In his drawn-out proclamation, Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to cancel work permits of those with final orders of removal, have committed crimes in the country, or are deportable. This category alone will make over 50,000 jobs available to the Americans each year, the official said.