WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security published new Interim Final Rules to restrict the ability of U.S. companies to hire foreign-born employees on H-1B visas. The new rules will be implemented without consideration of public comment from the American people. FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement:

“The Trump Administration continues to do everything it can to make it harder for immigrants to contribute to their families, communities, and economy. These policies are yet another roadblock for U.S. businesses to hire critically needed workers with specialized skills. Because these rules impose obligations completely disconnected from real world labor markets, many immigrants who have lived in the country for years may now be unable to extend their status here, while international graduates of U.S. colleges and universities will be unable to change status here to work and will thus have no choice but to leave the country, taking their U.S. education and training with them.

“There are important reforms that are needed to our immigration system. But those reforms shouldn’t be designed in a way that makes it harder for immigrants already here, and those we want and need to contribute to our country, to be able to do so. These reforms also shouldn’t be jammed through the regulatory process in a rushed effort to finalize rulemaking. Multiple courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, have repeatedly admonished the Trump Administration for violating due process in forcing through its agenda, and we are confident they will do so again. We object to this rushed attempt to undermine the ability of immigrants to contribute to our country.”