This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, US President Donald Trump announced a visa freeze that will affect approximately 525,000 people, including foreign workers and those seeking permanent residency through green cards.
The American Visa freeze, which will run through the end of the year, will primarily impact foreign workers, as Trump's executive order extends the ban on employment-based visas until the end of the year.
The executive order affects various types of visas, including H-1B, H-2B, J-1, and L visas, which will restrict the entry of tech workers, seasonal workers, and students into America.
According to the administration, freezing the American visa will help preserve US jobs during the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. Trump describes the order as a tool to give Americans priority in getting employment, currently scarce.
However, critics argue that the push to curb immigration extends beyond the pandemic, dating back to Trump's 2016 campaign. The New York Times posits that the current temporary suspensions might lead to more permanent barriers to immigration.
Big tech companies, including Alphabet and Amazon, have expressed their disappointment in the executive order, citing its potential to slow growth and reduce job creation.
Thomas J Donohue, Chief Executive of the US Chamber of Commerce, argues that the restrictions will hold the country back, and further “push investment and economic activity abroad, slow growth, and reduce job creation.”
