Trump announces new visa restrictions

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US President Donald Trump yesterday temporarily suspended the issuance of new work visas for some foreign workers, a move widely contested by business groups. Trump’s presidential proclamation bans most H-1B visas for skilled employees as well as H-2B seasonal worker visas. It also restricts certain H-4, J-1 and L-1 visas. Tech companies like Amazon, Google and Twitter, which rely heavily on H-1B visas, are opposing the directive.
The White House said the move would help the economy rebound amid the coronavirus crisis and that the visa categories targeted pose “a risk of displacing and disadvantaging American workers during the current recovery.” Critics argue that the order is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to curb immigration.
The visa suspension, which exempts those already in the United States and visa holders abroad, as well as some workers in agriculture, health and food industry, takes effect Wednesday and lasts until the end of the year.
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White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News on Monday that the trade deal with China was “over.” The comment fueled volatility in the markets. Navarro later reconsidered the remarks, suggesting that his comments were taken “out of context”.
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Discussion: What’s the next step in the fight against the coronavirus?
The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 9 million people worldwide and caused 440,000 deaths worldwide. As countries begin to reopen while we wait for vaccines and treatments, what can we expect next and how can we prepare and respond? As part of our conversation series on the coronavirus crisis, Elana Gordon of The World will answer your questions while moderating a discussion with epidemiologist Caroline Buckee of the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard on Tuesday, June 23 at 12 p.m. EST.
Morning meme
Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house reopened to potted plants on Monday. Spanish conceptual artist Eugenio Ampudia came up with the idea of placing plants in the theater, inspired by his connection to nature during the pandemic. The herbal reopening came a day after Spain’s three-month state of emergency ended.
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