Trump suspends some foreign worker visas despite business opposition

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 08:48

The Trump administration has suspended some work visas for foreigners till the end of the year in a bid to revive a coronavirus-battered economy.

The order, signed by US President Donald Trump, will suspend H-1B visas for fields like technology and most H-2B visas for seasonal workers.

It will not affect applicants already in the US or those abroad who have already been issued a visa.

According to a senior administration official, the move, which kicks in on Wednesday, will open up 525,000 jobs for US workers.

However, major tech companies and the US Chamber of Commerce said it would stifle the economic recovery instead.

Some critics claim it is Trump' way of using the pandemic to push through his tough immigration plans ahead of the November elections.

More from International news

Putin offers no compromise on Ukraine, says EU 'robbery' failed

President Vladimir Putin offered no compromise on his terms for ending the war in Ukraine on Friday and accused the European Union of attempting "daylight robbery" of Russian assets.
Bangladesh rocked by unrest after death of student leader

Police and paramilitary troops fanned out across Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh on Friday after violent protests overnight over the death of a popular youth leader, with concerns of further unrest ahead of national elections in which he was due to run.
Suspected gunman in Brown University shooting found dead

The suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University last weekend is dead, a US attorney said, as authorities investigate whether the same person killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor two days after the rampage at Brown.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets Poland's Trump-backed president at key moment in war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Poland's MAGA-aligned President Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw on Friday as the Ukrainian leader tries to shore up relations with a key ally at a crucial moment for Kyiv's war effort.

Some Dubai flights cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
Some flights operating at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) were cancelled or delayed on Friday due to adverse weather conditions.
Dubai deploys special patrols, emergency crew to monitor traffic during rains
Dubai Police has deployed a number of patrols, while Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has positioned more than 2,000 staff to respond to any emergencies due to the unstable weather conditions.
UAE leaders congratulate Morocco on FIFA Arab Cup win
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has led messages congratulating Morocco's King Mohammed VI after they won the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar on Thursday.