Texas-based companies moving forward during these trying times may undergo further workforce challenges as an executive order concerning immigration policy was signed last Monday. This directive from the President of the United States suspends the granting of visas for immigrant workers until the end of 2020. 

According to The Texas Tribune, this directive from President Donald Trump has the tendency to push in the wrong direction as the economy needs to be grown and not hindered. Despite this foresight, the article doesn't imply that immigrant workers will be taking over specific jobs from Americans. Consequently, this bracket of the workforce demographic will "do jobs that Americans are doing as well" because as the economy needs a restart, every helping hand counts.

In particular, Ryan Skrobarcyzk of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association shed light on the dilemma. In the article, he mentioned how these recent restrictions have made them give proof first to the right authorities that there's a shortage of local hired hands. Once the proper channels have been informed, they will be the signal for them to employ immigrant workers.

Skrobarczyk also added that in Texas alone, there are about 9,000 H2B visas, with most of them working as landscapers.

There are at least 9,000 H2B visa holders in Texas, Skrobarczyk said, and most are employed in the landscaping business.

What Was the Signed Executive Order All About

According to Independent UK, the executive order suspends new work visas for foreign applicants until the end of December 31, 2020. 

The order will also apply to the following visa holders:

  • H-1B visas for which are mostly from the Silicon Valley and granted to Indian tech workers
  • H-2B visas which mainly consist of seasonal workers, this will include immigrant workers from the hospitality industry
  • H-4 visas for spouses of individual visa holders and J visas for those participating in work and student exchanges
  • J-1 visas for short-term cultural exchanges
  • L-1 visas which concern company transfers of managers and key employees

Who are exempted from this newly-signed temporary immigration policy?

Immigrant workers who are involved in healthcare, food processing, agriculture, and seafood industries.

According to CBS News, Trump halted the application of visas to give way for unemployed Americans who suffered due to the pandemic to get back to the workforce. His administration has given an estimated 500,000 jobs to be filled as a byproduct of the visa suspension.

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