This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the US economy, President Trump has announced plans to extend the work visa freeze for non-US citizens until the end of 2020.
According to a senior administration official, the move aims to free up 525,000 jobs and address the high unemployment rate caused by the pandemic.
"President Trump is focused on getting Americans back to work as quickly as possible," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The new executive order, expected to be released later Monday, will expand on the 60-day freeze Trump implemented in April, which affected new work permits for non-US citizens.
The order will now cover H1-B visas, which are provided to 85,000 workers each year with special skills, as well as most J visas and L visas used by companies to shift workers based overseas to their US offices.
The administration official emphasized that the H1-B visa freeze is temporary, with the goal of restructuring the program to prioritize foreign workers with the most value to the US economy.
"Trump is going to prioritize those workers who are offered the highest wages," the official said, indicating that they can add more value to the US economy.
"It will eliminate competition with Americans... in these industries at the entry level, and will do more to get the best and the brightest," the official added.
