Trump's "Buy American, Hire American" executive order
On Tuesday, April 18, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order dubbed as "Buy American, Hire American". This latest order instructs federal agencies specifically the Departments of State, Labor, Justice, and Homeland Security to review and reform the H1B visa program. It also directs these offices to crack down on fraud and abuse of this program and to ensure that American workers are not discriminated against as employers seek to hire foreign workers and pay them less than their American counterparts. The present system of random lottery of visa allocations is also being looked at which may be replaced with a more structured system. While this executive order does not immediately change the H1B program as it stands now, yet after these agencies shall have conducted their reviews, we will then be seeing some drastic reforms on the implementation of this program. For sure our Filipino workers, especially in the technology sector, who aspire to work temporarily in the US will be affected. Let us hope that whatever those reforms might be, those will be more orderly, fairer, and competitive for the foreign worker.
In another immigration-related development, DHS Secretary John Kelly announced that construction for the wall on the US-Mexico border will begin by summer of this year. At an estimate of 15 to 22 billion dollars and covering at least 1,250 miles, it would take three and a half years to build this wall. You may recall that building this wall is one of Mr. Trump's campaign promises and now as president, he makes this a top priority despite stiff opposition from the Democrats. Mr. Trump believes, along with many Republicans, that ensuring security especially in the southern border minimizes the problem of illegal immigration, drugs and gun smuggling, and human trafficking. Once the border is secured, many lawmakers and even the American public would be more open to comprehensive and meaningful immigration reform.
In its first 100 days, we have seen how the Trump administration flexes its political will in advancing its immigration agenda even to the point of losing its face before the federal courts. In a long line of seemingly restrictive and perceptible anti-immigrant executive orders and policies immersed under the murky excuses of national security and Americanism, Mr. Trump's big bet on his immigration initiatives will be tested, not only in the courts, but also in the boardrooms of US companies desiring to hire foreign workers, and the kitchen tables of immigrant families whose are constantly threatened to be torn apart.
Last Sunday, I had the honor of being one of the guests in a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening of a solo art exhibit by a good friend of mine, one of the best known and multi-awarded painters in Cebu, Mr. Jojo Gubalane. Entitled "ART-VENTURE", his exhibit runs until April 30 at the Ayala Center Cebu. I am an avid collector of Jojo's works and his paintings are highly admired by my friends here in the US. Check out his latest masterpieces and be mesmerized by the talent and passion he pours into his craft. Let us support Cebuano talent!