The President of the United States, Donald Trump (AFP)
WASHINGTON: Industry leaders and executives US giants from Amazon and Apple to Tesla and Twitter criticized President Trump’s executive order on suspending green card processing and freezing work visas for foreign workers, warning Tuesday that the measure will delay innovation and American competitiveness. Proponents of a hard-line nativist immigration policy celebrated the presidential decree, although some complained that it did not go far enough.
the United States Chamber of Commerce, who generally leans toward Republicans, led the criticism and warned that “restrictive changes in our nation’s immigration system will boost investment and economic activity abroad, slow growth and reduce job creation.” Throughout the technology industry, it was seen as a “gift” to Canada, which could benefit from its more open policy towards highly skilled workers.
“Placing a ‘not welcome’ poster for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers will not help our country, it will stop us,” House CEO Tom Donahue said in a statement. The disapproval also came from individual CEOs, some of whom have tactfully tried to work with the White House to influence the outcome.
“Immigration has contributed immensely to the economic success of the United States, making it a world leader in technology, and also Google The company is today. Disappointed by today’s proclamation, we will continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunities for all, “said India’s CEO for the United States. Sundar Pichai, who has engaged with Trump on economic issues, tweeted.
Also read: Donald Trump suspends H-1B, H-4 visas until the end of the year
Similarly, Tesla’s Elon Musk, who has also worked with Trump on some issues, argued that the skills contributed by foreign workers are “net job creators” in the United States. “Strongly disagree with this action … Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad,” he said, even as those who opposed the Trump move warned that removing visas for qualified personnel could mean “the next Elon musk will create the next SpaceX or Tesla somewhere else. ”
Both Pichai and Musk are among the scores of high-profile tech executives who benefited from the US visa regime. USA That for more than two decades, it welcomed more than a million trained technology workers, often through the academic / college education path, and who in turn have contributed enormously to America. According to some accounts, more than a third of Silicon Valley companies are founded by immigrants, creating millions of jobs and billions of wealth.
“From 1996 to 2011, the rate of business start-up for immigrants increased by more than 50 percent, while the rate of start-up for natives decreased by 10 percent, to a minimum of 30 years. Immigrants today They are more than twice as likely to start a business as native citizens each day, “INC magazine noted in a 2018 article titled The Heroes of America’s Startup Economy was not born in the United States.
Trump administration officials who followed the nativist line claimed that the president’s executive order would release some 525,000 Americans. Jobs for Americans who would have otherwise been filled by foreign visa workers. But the argument had little conviction, considering that unemployment claims in a scourged pandemic in the United States exceed 40 million, and in the words of one critic, the laid-off hospitality worker is unlikely to write code for a company. of technology. In fact, the pressure on Trump to eliminate immigration predates the pandemic.
Even the administration’s former mandarins disapproved of the latest move. “Being able to attract the best and brightest through the H1-B visa program has made the United States more successful and resilient. Knowing how to take advantage of foreign talent is a strength of the United States, not a weakness!” Alice Wells, who until recently was the key person for South Asia in the state department. “This entire system needs smart and measured reform. But this is like all of Trump’s other moves: He throws a hammer at the piano to make music,” said Kara Swisher, technology writer and co-founder of Re-Code.
Senior administration officials who briefed reporters on the background on Monday said the ban was “temporary” and indicated that it could extend beyond December 31, 2020 when it expires. For all practical purposes, this means that it could require President Trump to lose the election in order to have the ban revoked, or, conversely, a second term for the president could result in extending the ban and reforming immigration laws and regulations. current in a way that will satisfy the Trump base that has campaigned hard to stop immigration.
Amid widespread recognition that India would be the country most affected by the visa cut (more than 50 percent of H1-b visas go to Indian professionals), Indian officials consoled themselves with the fact that those who already are in the United States will not be affected. The nativist drive to finish Optional Practice Training (OPT), which allows international students to do an internship in the US. USA (Up to three years for STEM students), it also remains intact despite the vigorous effort of the anti-immigration lobby to end the program. Most students don’t see any percentage coming to the US. USA If they cannot do an internship in the country to gain practical experience while looking for a job in the US. USA And in other parts of the world.
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