Beyond Immigration Enforcement: Trump’s Plans for High-Skilled Immigration

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Beyond Immigration Enforcement: Trump’s Plans for High-Skilled Immigration

by SCwpadmin

by SCwpadmin

While most of Donald Trump’s future plans for U.S. immigration law have centered on enforcement (i.e. his “10-Point Plan”), throughout the campaign he has made both vague and direct statements regarding U.S. high-skilled immigration policy under a Trump administration.

On one hand, Trump companies have often used high and low skilled visa categories to satisfy their employment needs. However, Trump has regularly attacked the H-1B program during the campaign. Beyond the many statements that he will suspend immigration from certain regions (particularly those “that export terrorism and where safe vetting cannot presently be ensured”), he has also said he will “end the use of the H-1B as a cheap labor program.” In fact, many Trump campaign events featured American workers allegedly displaced by companies that have used high-skilled visa categories to staff themselves. Moreover, within his 10-Points, Trump also stated he will “[e]nsure that a biometric entry-exit visa tracking system is fully implemented at all land, air, and sea ports.”

Given this ambiguous preview of what high-skilled immigration policy modifications lay on the horizon, when such policies will be implemented and what they will look like post January 20th is anyone’s guess.

 

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