President Trump's New Executive Order on H-1B

On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed a new Executive Order regarding the H-1B program. The Executive Order is titled "Buy American and Hire American." However, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (AILA Doc. No. 17041851), it was announced in a press release that it will have no immediate impact on the H-1B program.

What does the Executive Order do?

The Order directs the Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State to review the current H-1B laws. President Trump wants to "prioritize the most skilled and highest paid positions." President Trump also announced that he wants to crack down on fraud and abuse of all visa programs.

Additionally, it is important to note that the Executive Order will have no immediate impact. Many of the changes discussed by President Trump and the Administration would actually require further legislative approval. This can be a slow process. Any changes made would have to ensure that temporary worker programs, such as the H-1B, remain tools that can be used by American businesses seeking to stay globally competitive.

For more information, read the full Executive Order here.