U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said his administration will scrutinize what he called “abuses” of visas amid speculation that he intends to restrict the flow of skilled workers into his country.
In a two-minute video posted on YouTube, Mr. Trump for the first time since the Nov. 8 election articulated to the public what he plans to do during his first 100 days in office.
“On immigration,” Mr. Trump said, “I will direct the Department of Labor to investigate all abuses of visa programs that undercut the American worker.”
He also said he would take action on trade, energy policies and more.
He didn’t elaborate on specific programs or provide details on the so-called abuses.
Tens of thousands of mostly Indian citizens enter the U.S. on high-skilled worker, or H-1B, visas every year, and analysts say Mr. Trump could target the program for tougher vetting.
That would be bad news for India’s outsourcing industry, which has long been sending programmers and engineers to the U.S. on such visas.
A spokeswoman for Indian outsourcing firm Infosys Ltd. declined to comment on Mr. Trump’s remarks. India’s largest software exporter by revenue, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., and large outsourcing firm Wipro Ltd. didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for the National Association of Software and Services Companies, a trade body, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile the president-elect has said he will nominate for the position of attorney general Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.), one of the nation’s sharpest critics of illegal immigration. Mr Trump has in the last year been close with Mr. Sessions, considering him an important adviser on issues like immigration and national security.
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