Trump to sign 'Buy American, Hire American' executive order, crack down on foreign workers
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US President Donald Trump will sign a "Buy American, Hire American" executive order today and urge government agencies to reform a guest worker program.

The order, to be signed in Wisconsin, calls on the Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to "take prompt action to crack down on fraud and abuse" in the immigration system to "protect workers."

The order will focus on the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.

Airbnb among 58 tech companies who oppose Trump's rejigged travel ban
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The tech industry has been a great user of the visas but even Mr Trump's own organisation has hired workers for his Mar-a-Lago resort and Trump Vineyard under the program.

The order will go someway to backing up Mr Trump's campaign rhetoric about protecting American workers and their jobs.

He had previously expressed his support for the visa class but later in the campaign called for the H-!B program to be abolished.

Around 85,000 H-1B visas are distributed annually by lottery with many going to Silicon Valley firms, which say there is a shortage of skilled technology workers in the US.

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Critics of the program argue that the same firms use the program to hire foreigners who are willing to accept less pay than American workers.

Mr Trump cannot change the number of visas allocated by executive order.

The order will also attempt to strengthen requirements that American-made products be used in certain federal construction projects, as well as in various federal transportation grant-funded projects, administration officials said.

ABC News

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