The impact of Trump’s policies on business immigration

The current president of the US, Donald Trump, and his team, have never supported immigration, both illegal and legal. In fact, rather the opposite, his administration has tried to reduce immigration alternatives, hinder and restrict humanitarian processes such as political asylum, increase surveillance at the borders, build a border wall to curb illegal immigration from Central America and increase restrictions and requirements on business immigration.

Speaking specifically about business immigration, the Trump administration has tried to narrow alternatives for American or US-based companies to hire staff from abroad. The president, along with his cabinet, argue that local companies often take advantage of the current immigration system to pay lower wages to foreign workers, leaving American employees behind, which, in times of crisis, increases the unemployment rate and affects local families.

The Trump administration’s restrictions on business immigration have been more prominent after and during the massive Coronavirus outbreak in the North American territory. This is because, under the premise of a global health crisis, his government had the opportunity to substantially limit alternatives to hire trained personnel from abroad.

For instance, the H-1B visa program is one of the most affected during Donald Trump’s term. Local companies have the possibility to hire highly qualified foreign workers through this visa. It is important to clarify that foreign H-1B visa holders are commonly professionals in areas important for international competitiveness such as science, technology, engineering and research.

Tech and science communities contradict the Trump administration

Several experts from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields have contradicted the Trump administration’s opinion regarding business immigration, mainly when it comes to the H-1B visa.

Let’s see some examples:

• The Biophysical Society recently commented on the importance of highly qualified foreign workers for scientific development in the US. This organization states that reducing business immigration does not protect American workers, but simply hurts important sectors such as science.
• The Hills recently commented on the importance of allowing highly skilled foreign workers and investors to enter the US in times of crisis to help the scientific field.
• A recent report states that technology companies known as FinTech, which also focus on economics and finance, need to attract talent, innovation and professionalism from abroad to boost the country’s economy and overcome the crisis brought by the global pandemic of COVID-19.

Adding to that, broadcast news station WDVM 25 released a report exposing the role of foreign workers and international students in STEM fields, beyond the opinion of the Trump administration or a political ideal.

WDVM 25 states that according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, more than half of workers with PH.Ds in STEM fields are immigrants who came to the US on a student visa or a work visa. They are essential for technological and scientific development and, therefore, for the international competitiveness of the country.

The Arlington School Board Vice President openly states, “We really want to encourage students from every type of background to take advantage and our goal as a public school system is to ensure we have diversity across all of those different opportunities.”

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Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.