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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 19 april 2017
Trump targets visa program he says hurts American workers

CATHERINE LUCEY tions, but the total was still
SCOTT BAUER nearly 200,000, far more
Associated Press than the 85,000 limit.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Turn- Tuesday’s order also seeks
ing back to the economic to strengthen requirements
populism that helped drive that American-made prod-
his election campaign, ucts be used in certain fed-
President Donald Trump eral construction projects,
signed an order Tuesday as well as in various grant-
he said should help Ameri- funded transportation proj-
can workers whose jobs ects. The commerce sec-
are threatened by skilled retary is to review how to
immigrants. close loopholes in existing
At the headquarters of rules and provide recom-
hand and power tool mendations to the presi-
manufacturer Snap-on dent within 220 days. The
Inc., Trump signed an or- order also asks agencies to
der aimed at curbing what assess the use of waivers.
his administration says are The trip brought Trump to
hiring abuses in a visa pro- the congressional district
gram used by U.S. technol- of House Speaker Paul
ogy companies. Dubbed Ryan, but Ryan was out of
“Buy American and Hire the country on a congres-
American,” the directive President Donald Trump speaks at tool manufacturer Snap-on Inc. in Kenosha, Wis., Tuesday, April sional trip. The president
follows a series of recent 18, 2017. Trump visited the headquarters of tool manufacturer Snap-on Inc., and later signed an was greeted by Gov. Scott
Trump reversals on eco- executive order that seeks to make changes to a visa program that brings in high-skilled workers. Walker outside Snap-on’s
nomic policies. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) headquarters.q
“We are going to defend
our workers, protect our Import Bank, which he
jobs and finally put Amer- billed as wasteful subsidy.
ica first,” Trump declared, But Trump returned to
standing in front of an Tuesday to the econom-
American flag fashioned ic tough talk of his cam-
out of wrenches. paign, saying: “We’re go-
Much like some prior or- ing to make some very big
ders, however, Trump’s ex- changes or we are going
ecutive action Tuesday es- to get rid of NAFTA for once
sentially looks for detailed and for all,” referring to the
reports rather than making Clinton-era U.S. trade pact
decisive changes. In this with Canada and Mexico.
case, the reports are about In his new directive, the
granting visas for highly president is targeting the
skilled foreign workers and H-1B visa program, which
ensuring that government the White House says un-
purchasing programs buy dercuts U.S. workers by
American made goods as bringing in large numbers
required by law. of cheaper, foreign work-
Trump chose to sign the ers and driving down wag-
directive at Snap-on Inc., es. The tech industry has
based in Wisconsin, a state argued that the H-1B pro-
he narrowly carried in No- gram is needed because
vember on the strength of it encourages students to
support from white, work- stay in the U.S. after get-
ing-class voters. Trump cur- ting degrees in high-tech
rently has only a 41 per- specialties — and because
cent approval rating in the companies can’t always
state. find enough American
He campaigned last workers with the skills they
year on promises to over- need.
haul U.S. trade and regula- The new order would di-
tory policy, but his execu- rect U.S. agencies to pro-
tive orders on those issues pose rules to prevent im-
reflect the administration migration fraud and abuse
bowing somewhat to the in the program. They would
limits of presidential pow- also be asked to offer
er. Also, he has recently changes so that H-1B visas
reversed several populist are awarded to the most-
promises, including stand- skilled or highest-paid ap-
ing up to China, which plicants.
he contended was ma- The number of requests
nipulating its currency and for H-1B visas declined this
stealing American jobs, year by about 15 percent,
and eliminating the Export- or roughly 37,000 applica-