If you haven't heard by now, tech companies are outraged by President Trump's immigration/refugee order, yes they have formally banned against the Trump Administration. It wasn't too long ago when Trump met with the leaders of some of these same companies in Trump Tower. Moral high ground or bottom-lines?
127 companies have filed a legal brief against President Trump's executive order on immigration and refugees from seven middle eastern countries. These companies include big names like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Tesla/SpaceX, Netflix, Uber, Intel, and many other companies, all according to CNN Tech. The reasoning behind the brief is, according to the Los Angeles Times, "The order makes it more difficult and expensive for U.S companies to recruit, hire, and retain some of the world's best employees." and "It disrupts ongoing business operations, and it threatens companies' ability to attract talent, business, and investment in the United States." Some companies, like Google, also have employees in the restricted countries, and may have interests. Reading the headline and reading that, you'd think that's morally justified and makes a statement towards the Trump Administration. If you think it about it, it almost seems like the companies are worried about hiring and making money. Check this video for a better idea from Fox Business's "Making Money with Charles Payne":
From watching that video, or really just thinking outside the status quo of a legal brief like this, it seems to be about H-1B visas and their net profits. The US has about 900,000 to 1 million people with H-1B visas and about 13% make up US tech jobs, all according to that video clip.
It makes sense, tech companies can hire foreign workers cheaper and get "more bang for their buck" basically, but what about US workers? It's hard to believe US schools, colleges, and universities aren't pumping out qualified US workers. Again, "more bang for their buck". Now there is nothing wrong with H-1B visas, but since President Trump is against the program these companies are scrambling for damage control. H-1B visas are good for businesses and of course the foreign workers, but it does pose some questions when any industry uses the program extensively, and the tech industry does. According to Business Insider, in 2014 64.5% of 315,857 H-1B visas were for computer related occupations. That is a large chunk of that year's H-1B approvals, and Trump wants to bring that number down to fill it with American workers, it's hard to see why Trump is wrong. US tech companies should be trying to hire Americans before H-1B immigrants, there are plenty of skilled and qualified candidates that are right here in the USA. The H-1B visa program shouldn't be treated as a garden of workers for any American industry. Hire who you need, where you need it, when you need it and if that requires using the H-1B program from time to time then so be it, but don't abuse it and shun the American worker. President Trump has been stirring up all sorts of controversy, but all for the better interest of the United States. US tech companies have not been a fan of Trump since Trump started targeting the H-1B visa program during his campaign, they also came out because of his stance on immigration and refugees as a whole, some sort of moral high ground. Moral high ground though, that's all this legal brief is disguised as, in reality the tech sector does not want "business as usual" going away, they want to continue on like Obama never left, not going to happen. The tech sector should not have anything to worry about, they'll continue to make great products and offer great services, and they'll still make hefty profit. H-1B visas are not going away, it's just going to be slimmed down and American workers will be promoted. Some of the companies on the brief are on Trump's Tech Advisory Council, but a few like Uber, have since stepped away from the table. Trump has been facing plenty of scrutiny over his orders, but Trump's a winner and don't expect him to lose now. It's sad that business is being politicized, because that is not the role for business, but this is just another example of what makes America, America.
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