Trump promised immigration controls to prioritize American workers. He fulfilled his pledge, in part

President Donald Trump's administration has taken measures to prioritize the hiring of American workers, including suspending the entry of some immigrants who may "present risk to the U.S. labor market" during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump in April signed a proclamation barring entry for people who did not have a valid immigrant visa in hand. The proclamation exempted health care professionals and researchers, investors, and some others. But in June, Trump extended the travel restriction and expanded the group of people prohibited entry to include H-1B visa applicants who want to come to the United States as temporary workers. Trump's proclamation is in effect till the end of 2020.

Trump's June proclamation said that under ordinary circumstances, temporary-worker programs can benefit the economy. But in an economy affected by the pandemic, the programs "pose an unusual threat to the employment of American workers," he said.

In April 2017, Trump also signed an executive order, "Buy American and Hire American," directing his administration to suggest reforms to the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty fields. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in April 2019 highlighted policy guidance it said was issued to combat H-1B abuse and to safeguard the integrity of other visa programs. The agency also created a public database on employers petitioning for H-1B workers.

Based on Trump's 2017 order, the Justice Department launched a program to investigate and hold accountable companies that "intentionally discriminate against U.S. workers due to a preference for temporary visa workers." In April 2020, the Justice Department said it had reached settlements with employers that discriminated in their use of the H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa programs. As of March, the Justice Department had entered into eight such settlements, the Justice Department said in a news release announcing a settlement with a Maryland construction firm.

In his campaign, Trump promised new "immigration controls" to boost wages and offer jobs to Americans first. As president, Trump has advocated for an end to the visa lottery program and for a greater share of immigrants to be allowed in based on merit, not for family reunification. But he hasn't succeeded in getting Congress to pass a law that would get rid of the visa lottery or that would overhaul the legal immigration system.

Though it's hard to quantify, it's likely that foreign workers are still being hired over Americans for many jobs. But through executive actions — including the temporary travel restriction — Trump to some extent fulfilled his promise. We rate this Compromise.