With at least 20 million Americans unemployed, Apple, Google and other big tech companies are still seeking H1B visas for foreign workers

Since December 2019, coroavirus has claimed at least 478,000 precious lives around the world. The virus has also wreaked havoc on the global economy. According to the Department of Labor, at least 20 million Americans are still without jobs. However, that does not stop the tech giants from continuing to seek H1B visas for foreign workers.

To help millions of Americans without jobs and free up thousands of jobs for American workers amid the coronavirus-induced unemployment crisis, President Trump on Monday signed an executive order banning a handful of new visas through the end of the year including the H-1B visa (largely used by workers in the tech sector) and the L-1 visa (often used for transferring managers or executives from the foreign arm of a company to the U.S.), among other visa types.

Less than 24 hours after the order was signed, a group of tech leaders came out to slam the President’s action saying the decision would cramp their ability to recruit top talent to the U.S. However, the question most Americans are asking is: Are there no qualified Americans that we need to hire foreigners?

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has long defended the need for an immigrant workforce at Apple, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the proclamation. In a tweet on Twitter, Cook said: “Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream.” Cook added: “There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation.”

Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 23, 2020

Cook is not alone. Google and Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai echoed Cook’s sentiments. In a post on Twitter, Pichai said: “Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today’s proclamation – we’ll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.”

Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today’s proclamation – we’ll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 22, 2020

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also reacted to the news on Twitter. Responding to a tweet from New York Times, Musk said: “Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad.” Social giant Twitter also slammed the announcement in a statement, saying the move is damaging to the “economic strength” of the U.S.

Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 23, 2020

Big tech companies and their lobbyists often claim that there is a “shortage” of American STEM workers that necessitates an ever-growing number of “high-skill” visas, such as H-1B, L-1, and H4 EAD. The claim is absolutely false. According to Center for Immigration Studies, the fact is, only about a third of natives with college degrees in STEM fields actually hold STEM jobs, meaning there are millions of Americans who could be recruited prior to turning to foreigners.

According to the USCIS data, Google had 2,678 H-1B visa approvals in 2019. Microsoft had 1,701 H-1B visa approvals during the same year.