Tech companies blast Trump order suspending H-1B visas

Tech companies criticized a regulation passed by President Donald Trump on Monday temporarily suspending work visas, including the H-1B for highly skilled workers, to prevent migrant workers from entering the coronavirus pandemic by the end of the year amid the coronavirus pandemic the US is coming.

Trump’s extended travel restrictions prohibit approximately 525,000 people from entering the country, including 170,000 Green Card holders who have been banned from entering the US since April. This is based on estimates made by a senior government official to the Wall Street Journal.

The arrangement, which does not apply to workers who already have a valid visa, will help save jobs for unemployed Americans, the Trump administration said. Trump said unemployment quadrupled between February and March this year.

“American workers are competing against foreigners for jobs in all areas of our economy,” Trump wrote in the regulation. “Without intervention, the United States faces a potentially protracted economic recovery with persistently high unemployment if labor supply exceeds demand.”

However, technology leaders warn that the decision will affect companies’ ability to recruit highly qualified foreign nationals. Around three quarters of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued each year are issued to people working in the technology industry.

An industry group representing tech giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook found tech companies to help fight the pandemic, and said the move would affect companies’ ability to make workforce decisions.

“The technology industry is working overtime to keep Americans connected during a global pandemic by providing food delivery services, tele-healthcare, collaborative business solutions, and opportunities for families and friends to stay connected,” said Linda Moore, CEO of TechNet, in a statement.

“This will slow innovation and undermine the work of the technology industry that is helping our country recover from unprecedented events,” said Moore. “Looking ahead, technology will continue to be critical to rebuilding our economy.”

Many technology giants cited the critical contributions immigrants make to their businesses and the United States as a whole.

“Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the world’s talent or create uncertainty and fear,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s chief counsel, in a late Monday tweet. “Immigrants play an important role in our company and support the critical infrastructure of our country. They contribute to this country at a time when we need it most.”

Amazon called the command “short-sighted” when it expressed its opposition.

“Preventing highly skilled workers from entering the country and contributing to America’s economic recovery jeopardize America’s global competitiveness,” said an Amazon spokesman. “The value of high-sill visa programs is clear and we are grateful to the many Amazon employees from around the world who have come to the US to develop new products and services for our customers.”

Google repeated these feelings.

“Immigrants have not only fueled technological breakthroughs and created new businesses and jobs, but have also enriched American life,” said Google spokesman Jose Castaneda in a statement. “America’s continued success depends on companies having access to the best talent from around the world. Especially now, we need that talent to contribute to America’s economic recovery.”

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, himself an Indian immigrant, praised immigration as helping build the company and the United States.

“Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a world leader in technology, and Google is the company it is today,” Pichai said in a tweet. “Disappointed with today’s proclamation – we will continue to work with immigrants and work to expand opportunities for everyone.”

Facebook said Trump’s proclamation was trying to use the pandemic to limit immigration, but would hamper the nation’s economic recovery.

“America is a nation of immigrants, and our economy and country benefit if we encourage talented people from all over the world to live, work, and contribute here. This is more true than ever,” said a Facebook Speaker. “Highly qualified visa holders play a critical role in promoting innovation – on Facebook and across the country – and we should encourage, not limit, that.”

Twitter said the job was undermining the diversity that it described as “America’s greatest asset”.

“People from all over the world come here to join our workforce, pay taxes, and contribute to our global competitiveness on the world stage,” said Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, vice president of public policy and philanthropy on Twitter, in a statement. “Unilaterally and unnecessarily suppressing America’s attractiveness to global, highly skilled talent is short-sighted and detrimental to the economic strength of the United States.”

Uber also criticized the order, saying immigration encourages innovation.

“Today’s executive order is disappointing for people from all over the world and will harm American companies,” said a Uber spokesman.

Aaron Levie, CEO of the cloud company Box, warned that the contract could cause companies to move jobs overseas. “It’s an incredibly bad policy at every level,” Levie said in a tweet on Monday. “It will only mean that more jobs will be moved outside of the United States and that America will in no way become better or more competitive.”

The American Civil Liberties Union accused the Trump administration of using the pandemic as an excuse to rewrite the immigration law.

“This is not a COVID-19 response or an economic response,” said the ACLU in a statement. “It is the exploitation of a pandemic to launch a division policy and reshape immigration law while Congress is being replaced.”