Trump Just Signed an Executive Order That Might Help Graduates of Historically Black Colleges

The man who campaigned on an “America First” platform just moved a step closer to limiting immigration.

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order, dubbed “Buy American and Hire American,” that sets executive branch policy to hire Americans and contract with American companies.

Here’s what it says about the H-1B visa program, which allows the government to temporarily hire foreigners for specialty occupations:

 In order to promote the proper functioning of the H-1B visa program, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, as soon as practicable, suggest reforms to help ensure that H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid petition beneficiaries.

McClatchy reported on how the shift in immigration policy could help graduates of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs):

Leaders and advocates for historically black colleges and universities have been monitoring the immigration and jobs debate, telling the Trump administration and congressional lawmakers that so-called science, technology, engineering and math graduates from HBCU schools are readily available to fill high-tech jobs that are currently going to foreign workers.

Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., who hosted a gathering of black college presidents in Washington, said Trump’s order “as a byproduct could help some of the HBCU graduates.”

President Trump signed an executive order earlier this year to increase funding to HBCUs. But Star Parker, founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, thinks the president’s effort is wrong-headed.

Nationwide, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 59 percent of all first-time college enrollees graduate in 6 years. For black students, it is 39.5 percent. But in HBCUs only 36 percent of students enrolled in 4-year degree-granting institutions graduate in 6 years.

So why is President Trump, who delivered a strong message in his campaign about working for real change to build prosperity in poor black communities, starting off by focusing on more of what has hurt black advancement so much — politicians showing them they care by spending government money?

President Trump signs the “Buy American and Hire American” order: