The economy is worse than it was in 2009, and there are very few jobs available in the market. Yet, the current administration does not send H-1B workers back or prioritize American citizens in hiring decisions. President Obama handled the 2009 recession more effectively; he ensured that H-1B workers remained in India by denying visa approvals.
4 replies (most recent on top)
Does it matter? They have corporate offices in India so it’s not a matter of visas at this point. The bottom line is there needs to be limits on hiring offshore
And what about H-4 spouses?
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/08/09/trump-doj-defends-work-permits-for-spouses-of-h-1b-migrants/
Tell me you watch MSNBC without telling me you watch MSNBC. SMH.
No, President Obama did not "block" H-1B visas in 2009. The H-1B program continued to operate, but new restrictions were put in place as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to protect American workers during the recession.
Key points regarding H-1B in 2009:
No General Block: The annual cap on H-1B visas remained in place, and employers could still file petitions.
"Employ American Workers Act" (EAWA): A provision within the ARRA, signed into law by President Obama in February 2009, targeted companies that had received funds from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).
Restrictions on TARP Recipients: Banks and other financial institutions receiving TARP funds were limited in their ability to hire new H-1B workers for occupations in which they had laid off U.S. workers.
Filing Dropped: The number of initial H-1B petitions filed and approved dropped between 2008 and 2009, reflecting the economic recession at the time.
The changes in 2009 were specific restrictions tied to the economic stimulus package, not an outright block or halt to the entire H-1B visa program.