The following statement can be attributed to Evan Engstrom, Executive Director of Engine, in response to President Donald Trump’s proclamation temporarily halting visas for foreign workers through the end of the year:
The administration’s decision to halt the issuance of work visas—including those under the H-1B program—for highly-skilled foreign workers will needlessly harm the tech industry and U.S. startup ecosystem that rely upon talented employees to drive global innovation. Instead of helping startups and small businesses recover from the coronavirus pandemic’s economic downturn, this proclamation hampers the tech sector’s ability to respond to the ongoing outbreak by limiting the effectiveness and reach of its workforce.
Rather than taking jobs from U.S. citizens, H-1B visa holders boost American innovation, create new jobs and opportunities, and lead to the production and development of critically needed technologies. Entrepreneurs are able to grow their businesses on a global scale because of the significant contributions of highly-skilled foreign workers. Making the United States a less welcoming place for highly-skilled foreign workers undermines our global standing and weakens our long-term economic recovery.
With many startups and entrepreneurs struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, this proclamation only serves to chill innovation at a particularly precarious moment. Instead of peddling in unjust fears about foreign workers taking U.S. jobs, the administration should give startups access to the talent they need to drive our country—and their businesses—forward.
