President will also block seasonal workers on H-2B visas (File)
Washington:
President Donald Trump will extend existing visa ban to include certain non-immigrant work visas as part of a measure to protect American workers in the face of economic devastation linked to the coronavirus pandemic said a senior administration official on Monday.
Trump will block the entry of foreign workers on H-1B visas for skilled workers and L-1 visas for workers transferred to a company until the end of the year, the official said.
The President will also block seasonal workers on H-2B visas, with the exception of workers in the food service industry.
The move comes despite opposition from companies that depend on foreign workers, including big tech companies and the US Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest trade association, who have said it will stifle economic recovery.
Critics of the measure say Trump is using the pandemic to materialize his long-standing goal of limiting immigration to the United States.
The immediate effects of the proclamation are likely to be limited, as US consulates around the world remain closed for most routine visa processing due to the pandemic. Trump is running for re-election on November 3 and has made his firm stance on immigration a central voice for voters, although the coronavirus, faltering economy, and recent national protests against police brutality have overshadowed this issue. these last months.
Visa suspension is Trump’s latest move to curb immigration in response to the pandemic and the economic fallout.
Trump will also renew an April proclamation that temporarily prevents certain foreigners from residing permanently in the United States, the top administration official said on Monday.
Trump rolled out new health-focused rules in March that allow the rapid expulsion of immigrants caught at the border and virtually cut access to the U.S. asylum system.
At the same time, he announced that the land borders with Canada and Mexico would be closed to spurious crossings, a measure that has been repeatedly extended.
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