As a mean of creating jobs for the US citizens affected by the corona virus pandemic, President Donald Trump has issued orders to restrict issuance of new Visas to foreign scholars setting limitations to foreign workers in the US.
On Monday June 22, Trump extended and expanded immigration restrictions to limit the entry of foreign workers to the United States.
The move caused alarms among scientists and experts who questioned about the future of US science.
H-1B visa are according to the order among other Visas categories restricted from being issued to foreign workers. H-1B visas are given to foreign faculty members hired at universities and employees hired by tech firms.
According to the orders, the restrictions take effect on June24th until the end of the year.
The orders further stresses that the freeze will not apply to people who are currently in the United States, or those with other valid documents for entering the country but provides exemptions for some foreign workers — academics on J-1 visas, often postdoctoral researchers, should be clear.
In addition, Officers issuing visas at US consulates abroad will be required to first evaluate petitions for other exemptions, including requests from researchers or doctors engaged in COVID-19 work.
The decision was reached at as a way of recovering the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to prioritize jobs for US citizens.
However Experts slammed the move arguing that foreign talent is necessary to keep the US scientific enterprise competitive.
