Business groups push Trump to keep skilled-worker visas amid pandemic

A range of business groups have made an 11th-hour appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump as he weighs whether to restrict temporary work visas, warning of negative economic consequences if he blocks the flow of skilled foreign workers into the United States. More than 300 U.S. companies, business associations and higher education groups that employ skilled workers sent a letter to Trump on Thursday that said reducing access to those workers - even for a short period - would result in “unintended consequences” and cause “substantial economic uncertainty.” Google , Facebook and Microsoft were among the companies pushing for Trump to leave H-1B visas, student visas and other skilled visas untouched. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce - the nation’s largest business association - also joined the effort.