Trump's new executive order will suspend H-1B, J-1, and H-2B visas, be in effect until the end of the year, and not immediately affect workers already in the US

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BuzzFeed News 2020-06-23

Context & Ripple Effects

This order extends the immigration-restriction arc that began in Trump's first term, when tech companies publicly pushed back against his early executive orders on immigration and USCIS suspended expedited H-1B processing — an option heavily used by tech employers. Unlike those earlier measures, this one suspends the visa categories themselves through year's end, though workers already in the US are spared.

First-order effects

Foreign nationals awaiting new H-1B, J-1, and H-2B visas cannot enter until December 31, while current US-based holders keep their status — splitting affected companies into two groups: those who can retain staff and those whose pending hires are blocked.

Second-order effects

Tech firms that leaned on premium processing to move hires quickly lose that lever entirely for the rest of 2020, and staffing-dependent industries like hospitality lose access to H-2B seasonal labor at peak season.

Third-order effects

The ban's framing as a job-market protection sets up the policy whipsaw that follows: Biden revokes the freeze in February 2021 (revoking the green-card and work-visa freeze) and lets the ban lapse outright in April, leaving employers to plan hiring around election-cycle reversals rather than stable rules.

The trend: US skilled-worker visa policy is oscillating between restriction and restoration with each administration, forcing employers to treat foreign hiring as politically contingent.

Discussion

@sundarpichai Sundar Pichai on x
Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today's proclamation - we'll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
@policy @policy on x
Statement on US high-skilled immigration proclamation: “This proclamation undermines America's greatest economic asset: its diversity. People from all over the world come here to join our labor force, pay taxes, and contribute to our global competitiveness on the world stage.
@andrewyng Andrew Ng on x
The suspension of the H1B visa program is bad for the US, bad for innovation, and will shatter dreams and disrupt lives. As a former H1B visa holder, my heart goes out to all the families affected.
@levie Aaron Levie on x
In the digital economy, you hire where the talent is. When you restrict immigration, the jobs still get created, just somewhere else. And later down the road, when those individuals create the next Google, it won't be here.
@levie Aaron Levie on x
This is unbelievably bad policy on every level. It will only mean more jobs move outside the US, and in no way makes America better or more competitive. https://twitter.com/...
@moorehn Heidi N. Moore on x
Now that he's banned the professional class and not just poor refugees, watch Silicon Valley rise up. 😐 https://twitter.com/...
@mlevchin Max Levchin on x
Turning away skilled, driven, creative folks offering to work extra hard for their shot at the American dream is going to send them off to other economies, similarly in need of such talents for their own post-COVID recovery efforts. H-1B holders result in net job creation.
@haleaziz Hamed Aleaziz on x
NEW: President Trump will sign an executive order suspending work visas — including H1B — through end of year & will extend previous green card restrictions through December as well, according to a sr administration official. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
@cnbc @cnbc on x
Google's Sundar Pichai, YouTube's Susan Wojcicki and Tesla's Elon Musk were quick to condemn President Trump's latest immigration crackdown, as were representatives from Amazon, Facebook and Twitter. https://www.cnbc.com/...
@sam_l_shead Sam Shead on x
The CEOs of U.S. tech giants including Google, YouTube and Tesla are criticizing President Donald Trump's decision to suspend H-1B and L1 work visas https://www.cnbc.com/...
@susanwojcicki Susan Wojcicki on x
Immigration is central to America's story, and it's central to my own family's story. My family escaped danger and found a new home in America. @sundarpichai is right - at @YouTube, we join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all. https://twit…
@deniswirtz Denis Wirtz on x
Trump expected to suspend H-1B visas until end of year to prevent international students/postdocs from coming to the US. Academic research in the US used to be the envy of the world in no small part because it opened its doors to international scholars. https://www.npr.org/...
@amy_siskind @amy_siskind on x
Anything to stoke racism and xenophobia. That's all he's got. https://twitter.com/...
@martinvars Martin Varsavsky on x
The rest of the world is thankful. Amazing talent will stay at home. https://twitter.com/...
@adamnash Adam Nash on x
The formula for Silicon Valley is simple, but at its heart is bringing together the best talent from all over the world & empowering them to help build new companies. Immigration is essential for this to work. It's also a unique advantage over China. 🌎 https://www.wsj.com/...
@deniswirtz Denis Wirtz on x
We @JohnsHopkins are prepared to take action if this order comes to pass https://twitter.com/...
@billkristol Bill Kristol on x
In immigration policy the Trump Administration reliably joins peak stupidity with feckless cruelty . https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
@the_moviebob MovieBob Productions on x
Apart from the evil, this is a knife in the heart of the economy. If Americans could fill these jobs, we'd be filling them - a country that elects Donald Trump doesn't HAVE a smart enough population to afford cutting off global tech/science workers who want to come here. https://…
@mmasnick Mike Masnick on x
This is such a dumb idea. I mean, there are so many dumb ideas coming out of this ignorant, clueless, dumbfuck administration. But this one is just such a stupid stupid idea that will do real damage to American competitiveness for no good reason at all. https://twitter.com/...
@isforat Brian Hall on x
I try not to tweet political often, as I am not deep as lots of others. but know some of the most talented people I have ever worked with - who have contributed incalculably to the tech industry in the US - were on these visas & can't fathom this. vote! https://www.buzzfeednews.c…
@ow @ow on x
Suspending H1B visas is so messed up on every level. This will inflict needless, immense pain on so many people - and only benefit countries like Canada with open visas + growing tech industry https://techcrunch.com/...
@pichette Patrick Pichette on x
A message to all you H-1B seekers; just look to the North, where we welcome you (and your family) with open arms... Did I mention free healthcare? Welcome to Canada. https://twitter.com/...
@virusesimmunity Prof. Akiko Iwasaki on x
This is the worst thing that's happened to US science and innovation. Banning #Immigrant scientists will lead to a devastating loss in creativity and productivity. Pretty much every lab in the US will suffer. https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
@sahilkapur Sahil Kapur on x
President Trump's order today —Freezes new green cards (lawful permanent residency) issued outside the U.S. —Suspends new H-1B (high-skilled workers), H-2B (non-ag temp workers), J (exchange visitors), L (managerial) visas —Expires 12/31/2020 https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
@tanvim @tanvim on x
This is what I was saying earlier about the H-1B program. Yes it is super flawed, but often it is the only viable pathway to citizenship for a international college students, exchange student/visitors etc to immigrate if they do not have immediate US citizen family. https://twitt…
@bznotes Bilal Zuberi on x
Once companies realize they don't need employees to be based in the US, setting up offices and hiring people *OUTSIDE THE US* will become the norm. Like what happened with WFH since March. In the meantime, say goodbye to incredible talent coming to the US to study. https://twitte…
@timkmak Tim Mak on x
I came into the U.S. more than a decade ago on a J visa, then scrambled for years on H-1B work visas. I sought and received a green card. Then I earned citizenship by joining the military and swore in on the graduation field at Ft. Jackson. That's a pathway now closed. https://tw…
@jason_pontin Jason Pontin on x
This will be extraordinarily difficult for technology and life sciences companies for the six months it remains in place. America produces around 3K biochemical engineering PhDs every year; labor demand is about a factor higher. We're not smart enough to turn away H-1Bs https://t…
@matt_oppy Matt Oppenheimer on x
At a time when our world is grappling with the devastation of a global pandemic, surging unemployment and heightened racial and political turmoil, this decision to further challenge the immigrant community is cruel and un-American. https://www.wsj.com/...
@kevincorke Kevin Corke on x
An order by President Trump would temporarily limit a variety of visas, including some that immigrants use to enter the U.S. to do work ranging from landscaping to tech. https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ

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