President Trump said Friday that “talented and highly skilled” immigrant workers would soon have an easier path to working in the U.S., and said he’s interested in creating a path to citizenship for these temporary workers.
“H1-B holders in the United States can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship,” Trump posted to Twitter Friday. “We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the U.S.”
H1-B holders in the United States can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2019
H1-B visas are given to foreign nationals who are needed and able to work in specialty occupations, and are meant to help U.S. companies ensure they have access to the talent they need to operate. The visas normally last six years, but can be extended.
While Trump has said illegal immigration is bringing drugs and crime into the U.S., he said the U.S. does want immigrants who are coming into the country legally if they can contribute.
[Read: Mexican drug cartels would pay for the wall under GOP bill]
The federal government has been partially shut down for three weeks now, due to a fight over Trump’s push for $5 billion in funding for a border wall. Trump is refusing to sign a spending bill that doesn’t include wall funding.
During his campaign for president, Trump campaigned on building a wall and said that Mexico would pay for it. On Friday, Trump repeated his claim that Mexico is effectively paying for the wall through the new trade deal he negotiated with that country.
“I often said during rallies, with little variation, that ‘Mexico will pay for the Wall.’ We have just signed a great new Trade Deal with Mexico. It is Billions of Dollars a year better than the very bad NAFTA deal which it replaces. The difference pays for Wall many times over!” Trump tweeted.
I often said during rallies, with little variation, that “Mexico will pay for the Wall.” We have just signed a great new Trade Deal with Mexico. It is Billions of Dollars a year better than the very bad NAFTA deal which it replaces. The difference pays for Wall many times over!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2019
