H-1B visa ban will harm businesses relying on immigrants workers: Lawmakers

The temporary suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrant visas by President Donald Trump will “disproportionately” impact high-skilled workers from Asia as well as harm the American businesses that rely on immigrant workers, US lawmakers have said.

In a huge blow to Indian IT professionals eyeing the US job market, Trump signed a proclamation on Monday suspending the most sought-after H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas until the end of 2020 to protect American workers in a crucial election year. The new restrictions take effect from Wednesday.

“This (the suspension of visas) will disproportionately impact high-skilled workers from Asia, who overwhelming utilise the H1-B visa system and account for over 80 per cent of H1-B visa holders in the United States,” Congresswoman Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said on Tuesday.