Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
News
April 3, 2017

Employ Americans first, US companies warned

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (AP) — The Trump Administration has issued a stern warning to US companies as they begin applying for coveted skilled-worker visas, cautioning that it would investigate and prosecute those who overlook qualified American workers for jobs.

The message came on the opening day of applications for American employers seeking visas known as H-1B, which are used mostly by technology companies to bring in programmers and other specialised workers from other countries.

“US workers should not be placed in a disfavoured status, and the department is wholeheartedly committed to investigating and vigorously prosecuting these claims,” Tom Wheeler, acting head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said in a statement.

The Obama Administration sued companies for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provisions, including businesses that favoured foreigners over US workers. But Monday’s warning in a news release at the start of the visa process appeared to be a first-of-its kind signal to employers not to put American workers at a disadvantage.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services also announced that it would step up its reviews of employers that use H-1B visas, saying “too many American workers who are qualified, willing and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged”.

The statements were the latest indication that even legal immigration will be scrutinised under the Trump administration.

While enforcement of visa abuses is not new, the aggressive position on the H-1B programme is a different approach. White House spokesman Sean Spicer also addressed the issue at the beginning of his daily press briefing, saying the Administration will crack down on businesses that discriminate against US workers by using the visa programme to hire foreigners.

Yet, the crackdown comes as no surprise. President Donald Trump promised as a candidate for office to “end forever the use of the H-1B as a cheap labour programme”. A draft proposal circulated in January promised to review existing regulations, find ways to allocate visas more efficiently and ensure that beneficiaries are “the best and the brightest”.

Trump has yet to issue that order; the enforcement effort announced Monday could be an interim measure while a broader overhaul is worked out.

The H-1B programme is open to a broad range of occupations, including architects, professors and even fashion models. Companies must affirm that the job requires a specialty skill that cannot be filled by a US worker, but critics say safeguards are weak. They argue the programme routinely lets in foreign workers with minimal skills, even though these visas are supposed to be reserved for highly specialised jobs that are difficult to fill with US workers.

The tech industry insists the H1-B programme is vital. Proponents say the programme encourages students to stay in the US after getting their degrees in high-tech specialties. He said many of them go on to start companies and hire US workers.

Critics called the announcement and increased enforcement a step toward reform.

“While the laws/regs are chock-full of major loopholes, the US Government hasn’t vigorously enforced them,” longtime critic Ron Hira, a Howard University professor, said in an e-mail. “I suspect that many H-1B dependent firms are not complying with good faith recruiting promises. DHS investigations would help shed light on this.”

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Cabbies and residents protest in Westmoreland over poor roads, demerit system
Latest News, News
Cabbies and residents protest in Westmoreland over poor roads, demerit system
September 21, 2026
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica—Taxi operators along with residents mounted roadblocks Monday in sections of Westmoreland, including Shrewsbury, Bullet Tree and...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Take your Cabinet meetings outdoors, Campbell tells Holness
Latest News, News
Take your Cabinet meetings outdoors, Campbell tells Holness
September 21, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—For his suggestion that students may actually enjoy learning in outdoor conditions, and for which he has received criticism, Prime M...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
18 suspects extradited to US in connection with Moïse assassination
International News, Latest News, Regional
18 suspects extradited to US in connection with Moïse assassination
September 21, 2026
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – Eighteen people detained in Haiti in connection with the 2021 assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse were on Su...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US refuses visas for Iran UN delegation members
International News, Latest News
US refuses visas for Iran UN delegation members
September 21, 2026
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP)—The United States has refused to issue visas for members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's delegation, including his communi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
CNN, MS NOW, Politico to sue Trump administration over White House access
International News, Latest News
CNN, MS NOW, Politico to sue Trump administration over White House access
September 21, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—CNN, MS NOW and Politico will sue the Trump administration after being denied access to the White House, the news outl...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Daylight robbery’
Latest News, News
‘Daylight robbery’
Campbell questions cost to build bases for container houses
September 20, 2026
General Secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP) Dr Dayton Campbell has accused the Government of carrying out “robbery in plain sight” as it re...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica fast becoming a country of ‘overnight’ food – Hayles
Latest News, News
Jamaica fast becoming a country of ‘overnight’ food – Hayles
September 20, 2026
Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Western, Ian Hayles says Jamaica is fast becoming a country of overnight (leftover) food under the Jamaica Labou...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Mt Pleasant suffer back-to-back JPL defeats to start season
Latest News, Sports
Mt Pleasant suffer back-to-back JPL defeats to start season
September 20, 2026
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Former champions Mt Pleasant FA have lost back-to-back games to start a Jamaica Premier League season for the first time after...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct