Two Bay Area congresswomen introduced a bill Friday that would protect thousands of Silicon Valley immigrants from a Trump administration move to strip their right to work.
The bill, written by Reps.
Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, and Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, would prevent the administration from revoking an Obama-era rule giving work authorization to certain spouses of H-1B visa holders.
A legislation seeking to prohibit the Donald Trump administration from revoking the work authorisation of spouses of H1-B visa holders, including Indians, was introduced in the US Congress by two lawmakers, who said that eliminating the benefit would force many foreign workers to use their talents to compete against American businesses.
H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B foreign workers.The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa used by Indians workers employed in US companies.
It allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.It is the most sought-after visa among Indian IT professionals.H-4 visas are issued only to very close or immediate family members of H-1B visa holders.
The move by lawmakers Anna G Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren to introduce the H-4 Employment Protection Act comes amid determination by the Trump administration to revoke an Obama-era rule that extends work authorisation to spouses of H-1B visa holders.
Since the rule was implemented, over 100,000 workers, mainly women, that too from India, received employment authorisation, improving the US’ competitiveness and lessening the economic burden on thousands of H-1B workers and their families, the two lawmakers said after introducing the bill in the House.
The H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibits the Trump administration from revoking this important rule, which it is expected to do by the end of the year, they said.
