Politics over Science?

Keeping foreign scientists out because they are a “risk” to the Labor Market in America.

Samantha Finkbeiner
2 min readOct 7, 2020

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in June of 2020 that restricts those who are not American citizens from being able to work in the United states. In his proclamation he states:

I determined that, without intervention, the United States faces a potentially protracted economic recovery with persistently high unemployment if labor supply outpaces labor demand. Consequently, I suspended, for a period of 60 days, the entry of aliens as immigrants, subject to certain exceptions.

This limitation on entry of aliens as immigrants to this country has hurt so many groups of people. The one that is extremely concerning is the limiting of foreign scientists from coming to America to help with pandemic relief. Many groups of scientists gathered together to write to the President on this issue. In their letter they state:

More than ever before, the country is relying on the scientific enterprise to help guide our path to recovery. Scientific progress and U.S. economic development are vastly accelerated by bringing the best and brightest minds together. Therefore, we urge you to prioritize the immigration of science and technology talent that will spur the scientific breakthroughs and economic growth of the United States that is needed for rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

These scientists are PLEADING with our president to let them help and get help to actually solve the pandemic. They also try to appeal to his obsession with the economy by pointing out that allowing foreign scientists to come to the United States would have economic benefits.

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