U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the executive order (EO) that expanded the immigration restrictions in the country.

This move was to make sure that Americans will be prioritized in getting jobs as the number of employment rate in the country surge.

Donald Trump
Reuters Connect

In a report published by Fox News, a senior administration official said millions of Americans have no jobs.

He said Trump's order to curtail visas for foreign workers will protect the disadvantaged and unemployed Americans from the threat of competition for scarce jobs as they will be prioritized.

The Trump administration is expecting economic growth in the coming months as some states have already reopened for business.

Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas has supported Trump's action.

He said the President's decision to expand his immigration ban is a manifestation of Trump's strong support for American workers.

Gooden added that currently there are 45 million individuals, who filed unemployment since mid-March and the order will help stop the competition between Americans and foreigners in getting the jobs as the economy reopens.

Trump's Executive Order Was Criticized

Meanwhile, despite the aim of the EO that gives more opportunities for Americans in the country to get the jobs first, big companies like Twitter has criticized Trump's action.

Twitter wrote that the order undermines the country's greatest asset and that's diversity.

The company also emphasized that people around the world join the labor force in the U.S., pay taxes, and have contributed to the global competitiveness on the world stage.

Moreover, the Democrats and immigration activists will likely oppose the order as they have already expressed disapproval on the immigration restriction in April and described it as anti-immigrant.

Here are the visas that are restricted under the EO:

  • H-1B tech worker visas
  • H-2B seasonal worker visas
  • Certain J work and education exchange visitor visas
  • L executive transfer visas

The restriction of these visas will take effect until the end of the year. But it will not affect those who already have a visa.

The following are exempted from the visas restriction:

  • Health care workers directly related to COVID-19 and for cases that are deemed to be in the national interest
  • Original green card order
  • Members of the U.S. military
  • H-2A agricultural guest-worker program

The effect of the order may not have a noticeable effect immediately. However, the Trump administration estimates that this will affect more than 600,000 jobs before December 31.

The decision of the President to suspend certain working visas was also not welcomed by some business groups.

They described it as too restrictive and an order that could potentially hurt the economic recovery of the country.

It can be remembered that U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue wrote a letter to Trump, stating that "American businesses" need an assurance that they can meet all the workforce that they need.

He added in his letter that businesses in the U.S. also need access to talents "both domestically and from around the world."

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