It should come as no surprise that the IT Industry is not happy – not happy at all – about Trump’s recent proclamation crippling the H1B visa program.
The H1B visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. The U.S. government defines a specialty occupation as one which requires the application of specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of work experience. Typically, H1B applicants include professionals in the fields of IT, finance, accounting, architecture, engineering, mathematics, science, and medicine.
U.S. IT companies have relied heavily on H1B visa holders to fill technology positions for which there are simply not enough American workers. And now these companies are speaking out against Trump’s ban on H1B visas.
Google, Amazon, Apple, and Twitter are among a long list of tech companies who are criticizing Trump’s visa ban, warning that the freeze would make American firms less competitive and less diverse.
Commenting on his Twitter page, Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote, “Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook commented, “Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both.”
And Amy E. Weaver, President of SalesForce tweeted, “H-1B workers generate innovation & growth that benefits us all and it will hurt the U.S. economic recovery and U.S. innovation leadership to further restrict H-1B visas.”
Some experts warn that Trump’s visa ban will simply encourage U.S. companies to offshore their tech jobs. After all, the pandemic has shown us that lots of jobs can be done from home – wherever home happens to be.