https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...-how-trump-officials-tried-to-end-h-1b-visas/
Members of the Trump administration waged war behind the scenes against companies and foreign-born scientists and engineers.
After four years, telling the story helps explain how Trump appointees turned U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) into an organization opposed to the immigration of high-skilled foreign nationals on H-1B visas.
The bill contained the outline of the Trump administration’s action plan for H-1B visas.
An analysis determined its purpose was to end the ability of high-skilled foreign nationals to work in the United States.
In addition to restricting H-1B visas, administration officials pursued policies to make it less appealing to study in the United States.
The “Implementation of March 31, 2017 Memo, Rescission of the December 22, 2000 ‘Guidance memo on H-1B computer-related-positions’” instructed USCIS adjudicators, in practice, to deny H-1B petitions for many occupations
In October 2017, the new USCIS director, L. Francis Cissna, issued a memo that increased the denials of H-1B petitions for continuing employment, which are usually extensions for existing employees at the same company or an H-1B visa holder changing to a new employer.
On June 20, 2020, Trump used his authority under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to issue a proclamation suspending the entry of H-1B, L-1 and other temporary visa holders.
This followed a similar proclamation on April 20, 2020, that stopped the entry of nearly all categories of immigrants, including employment-based.
While Donald Trump often said he wanted “merit-based” immigration, the war waged against companies, international students and H-1B visa holders during his administration showed the president and his appointed team had little interest in admitting even the most highly skilled foreign nationals to America.
